title: Outcomes when Switching from a pro re nata Regimen to a Treat and Extend Regimen Using Aflibercept in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate outcomes in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) switched from a pro re nata regimen (PRN) to a treat and extend regimen (TER) under aflibercept.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two patients were observed over 2 years: the first year on PRN and the second year on TER. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) were evaluated. Intra- and subretinal fluid as well as the number of visits and injections were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both regimens resulted in a stable BCVA. Patients in TER had a significant decrease of CRT after 1 year compared to 1 year of treatment on PRN (p < 0.0001). TER resulted in significantly less visits; however, significantly more injections were observed over the course of 1 year compared to PRN (10.25 vs. 7.5, p < 0.0001 and 5.97 vs. 7.5, p = 0.0002, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A switch from PRN to TER in patients treated with aflibercept for AMD appears to be safe.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Giannakaki-Zimmermann
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ebneter
authors.forename: Marion R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Munk
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: Martin S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Zinkernagel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012160:Retina / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C533178:aflibercept; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor