Retinal pigment epithelium rips after ranibizumab in neovascular age-related macular degeneration: incidence, risk factors and long-term outcome.
BACKGROUND
Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) rips after ranibizumab for wet age related macular degeneration (AMD) with a pigment epithelial detachments (PED) are a dreaded complication. Aim of this study was to analyse the incidence, the risk factors and long-term outcome after a PED tear.


METHODS
401 patients with wet AMD were analysed. A total of 33 eyes with PED were identified. Mean follow up time was 635 days (SD ± 311).


RESULTS
PED tears occurred in 8 (24%) patients. Most RPE rips (40%) occurred within the first three months. Mean visual loss was 13 letters (range -57-9). The PED tear group had a mean PED height of 521 µm. The PED group without a tear had a mean height of 300 µm (p ≤ 0.001). Patients with a PED height over 300 µm had more than twice the risk to develop a RPE rip compared to patients with PED height smaller than 300 µm (p ≤ 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
PED height is a relevant factor for the incidence of RPE rips after treatment with ranibizumab. Owing to the close time relationship with the therapy, this complication must be taken into account before treatment as it may lead to significant vision loss.
Sutton Eye Hospital, Epsom and St. Helier University Hospital (Lead Clinician: Miss Jane Leitch), London, UK.
J
J
Guber
Sutton Eye Hospital, Epsom and St. Helier University Hospital (Lead Clinician: Miss Jane Leitch), London, UK.
A
A
Praveen
Sutton Eye Hospital, Epsom and St. Helier University Hospital (Lead Clinician: Miss Jane Leitch), London, UK.
M U
MU
Saeed
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015984:Causality; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D000069579:Ranibizumab; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014786:Vision Disorders; D057135:Wet Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000069579:Ranibizumab