title: Risk of geographic atrophy in age-related macular degeneration patients treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF agents.
abstract: Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) intravitreal agents are the only successful treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, there are emerging signals that anti-VEGF treatment can potentially increase development of geographic atrophy (GA). Histopathologic, animal, and clinical studies support this hypothesis although direct proof of a relationship between GA and use of anti-VEGF agents in neovascular AMD is not yet established. This review presents current evidence supporting an association between anti-VEGF therapy and progression of geographic atrophy. The need of exploring alternative methods of treating AMD is indirectly but clearly emphasized.
authors.affiliation: NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gemenetzi
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.|Eye Unit, Southampton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lotery
authors.affiliation: NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Patel
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D057092:Geographic Atrophy / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A