title: Efficacy of vitrectomy and inner limiting membrane peeling in age-related macular degeneration resistant to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy, with vitreomacular traction or epiretinal membrane.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assessed the efficacy of vitrectomy and inner limiting membrane (ILM) peeling, followed by anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy, anti-VEGF-resistant age-related macular degeneration (AMD) due to vitreomacular traction (VMT) or epiretinal membrane (ERM).
  
  
  METHODS
  We identified six patients with anti-VEGF-resistant AMD due to VMT or ERM amongst a total of 588 patients with AMD (821 eyes) referred to Okayama University Hospital between February 2012 and May 2014. These patients underwent vitrectomy to release the VMT (4 cases) or remove the ERM (2 cases), along with ILM peeling. The regimen used for intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF reagents after surgery was based on the severity of exudative changes in each patient. Preoperative and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) measurements were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After vitrectomy and ILM peeling, all six patients responded to anti-VEGF therapy, which was then able to maintain dry retinas. Mean BCVA did not improve significantly (0.49 ± 0.28 before vs. 0.43 ± 0.38 after surgery, P = 0.538). However, mean CR was significantly decreased after surgery, from 423 ± 83.5 μm to 257 ± 75.8 μm (P = 0.0078).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitrectomy and ILM peeling followed by anti-VEGF therapy may be a useful therapeutic option for anti-VEGF-resistant AMD with VMT or ERM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama City, 7008558, Japan.
authors.forename: Shuhei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama City, 7008558, Japan. moriza-y@okayama-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Morizane
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama City, 7008558, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Toshima
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama City, 7008558, Japan.
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hosogi
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama City, 7008558, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumiaki
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kumase
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama City, 7008558, Japan.
authors.forename: Mio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hosokawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama City, 7008558, Japan.
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shiode
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama City, 7008558, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama City, 7008558, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shiraga
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019773:Epiretinal Membrane / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069579:Ranibizumab / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C533178:aflibercept; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D000069579:Ranibizumab
keywords: Age-related macular degeneration; Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor; Epiretinal membrane; Vitreomacular traction