Bimonthly injections of ranibizumab for age-related macular degeneration.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of bimonthly intravitreal injections of ranibizumab for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) in a pilot study.


METHODS
This study was a prospective, interventional case series. Thirty eyes of 30 patients received prospectively at least three bimonthly intravitreal injections of ranibizumab (0.5 mg/0.05 ml) without loading doses. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and the central retinal subfield thickness (CRST) were measured before and monthly after the injections.


RESULTS
Twenty-eight patients received the three planned injections; one patient refused the third injection, one patient did not receive the third injection because blood pressure was raised, and one patient received a rescue injection at month 5 because of increased retinal thickness. The mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) BCVA was 0.44 ± 0.37 before treatment and significantly improved to 0.25 ± 0.34 at month 6 (p < 0.001). The mean CRST was 335 ± 85.9 μm before treatment and decreased significantly to 261 ± 78.1 μm at month 6 (p < 0.001). Nine of 30 patients received six planned injections for 12 months. The mean logMAR BCVA was 0.38 ± 0.39 before treatment and significantly improved to 0.18 ± 0.33 at month 12 (p = 0.005). The mean CRST was 360 ± 110.8 μm before treatment and decreased significantly to 249 ± 57.0 μm at month 12 (p = 0.025).


CONCLUSIONS
Bimonthly injections of ranibizumab may be effective for treating AMD and PCV.
Department of Ophthalmology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tsukinowacho, Otsu, Shiga, 520-2192, Japan, tsawada@belle.shiga-med.ac.jp.
Tomoko
T
Sawada
Masashi
M
Kakinoki
Xiying
X
Wang
Hajime
H
Kawamura
Yoshitsugu
Y
Saishin
Masahito
M
Ohji
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011127:Polyps / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000069579:Ranibizumab; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000069579:Ranibizumab