Intravitreal aflibercept effective in radiation retinopathy
Like bevacizumab and ranibizumab, aflibercept has been shown to be effective in treating radiation retinopathy. In a study, patients experienced improved visual acuity and resolution of cystoid macular edema.
Take-home message: Like bevacizumab and ranibizumab, aflibercept has been shown to be effective in treating radiation retinopathy. In a study, patients experienced improved visual acuity and resolution of cystoid macular edema.
By Laird Harrison
VIENNA, AUSTRIA - Intravitreal aflibercept can treat radiation retinopathy, even recalcitrant cases that have failed prior treatment, a researcher says.
“We found that patients with radiation retinopathy who received intravitreal aflibercept injections had overall improved visual acuity, even though it didn’t reach statistical significance,” Liliya Shevchenko, DO, of Retina Specialists of Michigan in Grand Rapids told Ophthalmology Times.
“There was a statistically significant improvement in central retinal thickness in patients with radiation-related cystoid macular edema who received intravitreal aflibercept injections,” she said.
Dr. Shevchenko presented the findings here at the American Society of Retina Specialists’ 2015 Annual Meeting.
The study, a case series, is the first to look at aflibercept in radiation retinopathy. Several other series have examined bevacizumab and ranibizumab for the same condition, and shown similar results, Dr. Shevchenko said.
Many patients who receive radiation treatment for tumors of the eye, orbit, paranasal sinuses, and cranial fossa develop radiation retinopathy, said Dr. Shevchenko. Among those treated for ocular melanoma, about 70% show signs of retinopathy within 2 years.
Radiation leads to retinal vascular occlusion and formation of microaneurysms, she said. Retinal ischemia from small vessel occlusion ultimately leads to macular edema, which is what aflibercept addresses.
To determine the efficacy of aflibercept in treating this condition, Dr. Shevchenko and her colleagues reviewed the charts of 24 patients, 22 with radiation retinopathy-related cystoid macular edema and two with radiation retinopathy-related anterior segment neovascularization.
Among patients with cystoid macular edema, there was a significant decrease in central retinal thickness from 427.66 µm to 309.14 µm (P = 0.001). These patients showed a trend toward improved visual acuity, from .75 logMAR to .69 logMAR, which did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.065.)
Anterior segment neovascularization temporarily regressed in the two patients with this neovascular glaucoma.
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