title: Ranibizumab plus verteporfin photodynamic therapy in neovascular age-related macular degeneration: 12 months of retreatment and vision outcomes from a randomized study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the injection frequency and visual acuity (VA) outcomes with combination therapy (ranibizumab plus verteporfin photodynamic therapy, PDT) versus monotherapy (ranibizumab).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 40 patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration were randomized 1:1 to ranibizumab 0.3 mg plus single standard verteporfin PDT or ranibizumab 0.3 mg plus sham PDT. Ranibizumab was administered 3 times monthly followed by 'as needed' to month 12 based on predetermined vision/anatomical criteria. Retreatment rates, VA outcomes and safety were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During months 3-12, combination therapy patients required fewer ranibizumab injections (mean 1.3) compared with monotherapy patients (2.8). Mean VA improved by 9.0 letters with combination therapy versus 7.5 letters in the monotherapy group at month 12. Both treatment regimens were well tolerated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The need for ranibizumab retreatment might be reduced by administering a single verteporfin PDT on the same day as the first ranibizumab injection, without compromising VA outcomes or safety.
authors.affiliation: Vista Klinik, Binningen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hatz
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: P Bernhard
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Henrich
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sacu
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prünte
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008297:Male; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069579:Ranibizumab; D019233:Retreatment; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*; D057135:Wet Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000077362:Verteporfin; D000069579:Ranibizumab