title: Aflibercept for the treatment of diabetic macular edema.
abstract: Diabetic macular edema (DME) is an accumulation of fluid in the central retina, secondary to vascular-leakage from diabetic vascular damage. DME and other ophthalmic sequela of diabetes are the leading cause of blindness in 20 to 74-year-olds. The development of VEGF-inhibitors (anti-VEGF) has revolutionized DME treatment improving the clinician's ability to remove excess fluid from the macula, improving visual-acuity. Aflibercept is an anti-VEGF agent made of a recombinant fusion protein (consisting of VEGF receptors 1 and 2 extracellular domains) fused with the Fc-portion of human-IgG1, which binds both VEGF isoforms A and B, and placental growth factor. Phase III clinical trials and published scientific studies have demonstrated the efficacy of intravitreal aflibercept injection in the treatment of DME.
authors.affiliation: Truhlsen Eye Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 3902 Leavenworth St, Omaha, NE 68105, USA.
authors.forename: Keegan A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Harkins
authors.affiliation: Truhlsen Eye Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 3902 Leavenworth St, Omaha, NE 68105, USA.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haschke
authors.affiliation: Truhlsen Eye Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 3902 Leavenworth St, Omaha, NE 68105, USA.
authors.forename: Diana V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Do
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000188:drug therapy*; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C533178:aflibercept; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
keywords: Aflibercept; anti-VEGF; antiangiogenesis; diabetic macular edema; diabetic retinopathy; placental growth factor