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Gunnemann ML, Ziegler M, Book M, Gunnemann F, Rothaus K, Spital G, Gutfleisch M, Lange C, Lommatzsch AP, Pauleikhoff D. Is Exudative Neovascular AMD a Chronic Disease? Analysis of Long-term Progression under Anti-VEGF Therapy. Klin Monbl Augenheilkd 2024. [PMID: 38181813 DOI: 10.1055/a-2239-6394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anti-VEGF therapy is the standard treatment for exudative neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) caused by the development of macular neovascularisation (MNV) with associated fluid exudation. The therapeutic strategies (T&E or PRN) assumed a scarring transformation of the MNV and exit strategies and were formulated accordingly. The present study investigates this hypothesis as a real-life long-term analysis. PATIENTS 150 eyes of 97 patients were continuously followed up over a mean period of 5.1 years (1 - 14 years) after initiation of anti-VEGF therapy between 2009 - 2017 until 2022. Treatment was based on the PRN regimen analogous to the IVAN study with ranibizumab, aflibercept or bevacizumab. The length and intensity of therapy were evaluated. RESULTS Of these 150 eyes, 119 (79.3%) required ongoing anti-VEGF therapy, while in 18 eyes (12.0%) therapy could be discontinued due to stabilisation of the situation. In 13 eyes (8.7%), therapy was discontinued due to deterioration in visual acuity to < 0.05. With ongoing therapy, therapy was often protracted, with an indication for therapy at the last documented doctor's visit, while stabilisation was often achieved within the first 2 years of treatment. The treatment intensity increased to 7.7 - 8.0 injections/year, especially after 2013, with the introduction of OCT-based treatment criteria. Most eyes (74.8%) with ongoing therapy required 6 - 9 injections/year even in the last three years of treatment. CONCLUSION The fact that in the present study there is a long-term and intensive need for therapy in the majority of patients (approx. 80%) with exudative nAMD, supports the assessment that nAMD should be regarded as a chronic disease. Therefore, a proactive treatment strategy with consistent therapy at any sign of lesion activity might be recommended. Particularly in view of the risk of irreversible loss of vision, long term adherence of patients is also crucial for the best possible long term therapeutic outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Louise Gunnemann
- Augenärzte, Detmold, Deutschland
- Augenklinik, Klinikum Bielefeld Rosenhöhe, Bielefeld, Deutschland
| | - Martin Ziegler
- Augenzentrum am St. Franziskus-Hospital Münster, Deutschland
| | | | | | - Kai Rothaus
- Retinologie, Augenzentrum am St. Franziskus-Hospital Münster, Deutschland
| | - Georg Spital
- Augenzentrum am St. Franziskus-Hospital Münster, Deutschland
| | | | - Clemens Lange
- Augenzentrum am St. Franziskus-Hospital Münster, Deutschland
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Fleckenstein M, Schmitz-Valckenberg S, Chakravarthy U. Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Review. JAMA 2024; 331:147-157. [PMID: 38193957 DOI: 10.1001/jama.2023.26074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Importance Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects approximately 20 million people in the US and 196 million people worldwide. AMD is a leading cause of severe vision impairment in older people and is expected to affect approximately 288 million people worldwide by 2040. Observations Older age, genetic factors, and environmental factors, such as cigarette smoking, are associated with development of AMD. AMD occurs when extracellular deposits accumulate in the outer retina, ultimately leading to photoreceptor degeneration and loss of central vision. The late stages of AMD are characterized by outer retinal atrophy, termed geographic atrophy, or neovascularization associated with subretinal and/or intraretinal exudation, termed exudative neovascular AMD. The annual incidence of AMD ranges from 0.3 per 1000 in people who are aged 55 to 59 years to 36.7 per 1000 in people aged 90 years or older. The estimated heritability of late-stage AMD is approximately 71% (95% CI, 18%-88%). Long-term prospective cohort studies show a significantly higher AMD incidence in people who smoke more than 20 cigarettes per day compared with people who never smoked. AMD is diagnosed primarily with clinical examination that includes a special lens that focuses light of the slit lamp through the pupil. Exudative neovascular AMD is best identified using angiography and by optical coherence tomography. Individuals with AMD who take nutritional supplements consisting of high-dose vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenoids, and zinc have a 20% probability to progress to late-stage AMD at 5 years vs a 28% probability for those taking a placebo. In exudative neovascular AMD, 94.6% of patients receiving monthly intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections experience less than a 15-letter visual acuity loss after 12 months compared with 62.2% receiving sham treatment. Conclusions and Relevance The prevalence of AMD is anticipated to increase worldwide to 288 million individuals by 2040. Intravitreally administered anti-VEGF treatment is first-line therapy for exudative neovascular AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Steffen Schmitz-Valckenberg
- John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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Pauleikhoff D, Gunnemann ML, Ziegler M, Heimes-Bussmann B, Bormann E, Bachmeier I, Yu S, Garcia Armendariz B, Pauleikhoff L. Morphological changes of macular neovascularization during long-term anti-VEGF-therapy in neovascular age-related macular degeneration. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0288861. [PMID: 38134207 PMCID: PMC10745158 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To analyze the morphological changes of macular neovascularization (MNV) in exudative neovascular age-related macular degeneration under long-term intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy in a retrospective cohort study. METHODS AND PATIENTS We evaluated 143 nAMD eyes of 94 patients (31 male, 63 female; initial age 55-97 y, mean age 75.9 ± 7.5 y), who started anti-VEGF therapy (IVAN pro re nata (PRN) protocol) between 2009-2018 and received ongoing therapy until the last recorded visit (mean follow-up 5.3 ± 2.9 y, range 1-14 y). The mean total number of injections was 33.3 ± 19.8 with 7.0 ± 2.3 injections/year. MNV size and, if present, associated complete retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and outer retina atrophy (cRORA) size were measured on optical coherence tomography (OCT) volume scans at the initial visit and for each year of follow-up. MNV and cRORA were identified on B-scans and their respective borders were manually transposed onto the en-face near infrared image and measured in mm2. RESULTS MNV enlarged through follow-up, with a mean growth rate of 1.24 mm2 / year. The mean growth in MNV size was independent of initial MNV size, age, gender, MNV subtypes or number of injections per year. Nevertheless, a great interindividual variation in size and growth was observed. cRORA developed in association with increasing MNV size and its incidence increased linearly over follow-up. cRORA lesions also showed continuous growth by a rate of 1.22 mm2 / year. CONCLUSIONS Despite frequent long-term anti-VEGF therapy, we observed ongoing MNV growth. This is consistent with the concept that the development of MNV may be a physiological biological repair mechanism to preserve RPE and photoreceptor function, provided hyperpermeability and fluid exudation are controlled. Whether recurring low VEGF levels or other factors are responsible for MNV growth remains controversial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Pauleikhoff
- Dep. of Ophthalmology, St. Franziskus Hospital Muenster, Münster, Germany
| | | | - Martin Ziegler
- Dep. of Ophthalmology, St. Franziskus Hospital Muenster, Münster, Germany
| | | | - Eike Bormann
- Institute of Biostatistics and Clinical Research, University Muenster, Münster, Germany
| | - Isabel Bachmeier
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Pharma Research and Early Development, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Siqing Yu
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Pharma Research and Early Development, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Laurenz Pauleikhoff
- Dep. of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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Bachmeier I, Armendariz BG, Yu S, Jäger RJ, Ebneter A, Glittenberg C, Pauleikhoff D, Sadda SR, Chakravarthy U, Fauser S. Fibrosis in neovascular age-related macular degeneration: A review of definitions based on clinical imaging. Surv Ophthalmol 2023; 68:835-848. [PMID: 37023894 DOI: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2023.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Despite the success of antiangiogenic therapy in controlling exudation in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), the involvement of the outer retina in fibrosis results in gradual vision loss over time. The development of drugs that prevent or ameliorate fibrosis in nAMD requires that it is accurately detected and quantified with reliable endpoints and identification of robust biomarkers. Achievement of such an aim is currently challenging due to the lack of a consensus definition of fibrosis in nAMD. As a first step towards the establishment of a clear definition of fibrosis, we provide an extensive overview of the imaging modalities and criteria used to characterize fibrosis in nAMD. We observed variety in the selection of individual and combinations of imaging modalities, and criteria for detection. We also observed heterogeneity in classification systems and severity scales for fibrosis. The most commonly used imaging modalities were color fundus photography, fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography (OCT). A multimodal approach was frequently utilized. Our review suggests that OCT offers a more detailed, objective and sensitive characterization than color fundus photography/fluorescein angiography. Thus, we recommend it as a primary modality for fibrosis evaluation. This review provides a basis for future discussions to reach a consensus definition using standardized terms based on a detailed characterization of fibrosis, its presence and evolution, and taking into consideration impact on visual function. Achieving this goal is of paramount importance for the development of antifibrotic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Bachmeier
- Pharma Research and Early Development, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., 4070 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Beatriz G Armendariz
- Pharma Research and Early Development, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Siqing Yu
- Pharma Research and Early Development, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ralf J Jäger
- Pharma Research and Early Development, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Ebneter
- Department of Ophthalmology, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Carl Glittenberg
- Pharma Research and Early Development, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - SriniVas R Sadda
- Doheny Eye Institute, University of California-Los Angeles, Pasadena, 91103 CA, USA
| | - Usha Chakravarthy
- Queens University of Belfast, Institute of Clinical Science Block A, Belfast, UK
| | - Sascha Fauser
- Pharma Research and Early Development, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., 4070 Basel, Switzerland
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Wang SB, Nagasaka Y, Argyle D, Nagasaka A, Yerramothu P, Gelfand BD, Ambati J. Targeting the m6A mRNA demethylase FTO suppresses vascular endothelial growth factor release and choroidal neovascularization. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:72. [PMID: 36801892 PMCID: PMC9939410 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01277-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/21/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Shao-Bin Wang
- Center for Advanced Vision Science, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
| | - Yosuke Nagasaka
- Center for Advanced Vision Science, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Dionne Argyle
- Center for Advanced Vision Science, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Ayami Nagasaka
- Center for Advanced Vision Science, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Praveen Yerramothu
- Center for Advanced Vision Science, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Bradley D Gelfand
- Center for Advanced Vision Science, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Jayakrishna Ambati
- Center for Advanced Vision Science, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
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