Retinal pigment epithelial tears after intravitreal bevacizumab injection for exudative age-related macular degeneration

Optical coherence tomographic and visual results at six months after transitioning to aflibercept for patients on prior ranibizumab or bevacizumab treatment for exudative age-related macular degeneration (an American Ophthalmological Society thesis)

PURPOSE

To study optical coherence tomographic (OCT) results and vision at 6 months after transition (post-Tx) from intravitreal bevacizumab and/or ranibizumab to aflibercept for treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). The null hypothesis was the lack of improvements in OCT metrics and vision outcome in study eyes at 6 months after transitioning from bevacizumab or ranibizumab to aflibercept.

METHODS

This retrospective study assessed 6 monthly OCT (Cirrus) data after transitioning to aflibercept for eyes on prior Legacy-ranibizumab, Legacy-bevacizumab, or mixed treatment for nAMD. Outcome measures were subretinal fluid (SRF), cystoid macular edema (CME), pigment epithelial detachment (PED) heights and volumes, central 1- and 3-mm subfield, Macular Volume, and best spectacle and pinhole visual acuity (VA). A single masked investigator performed all OCT measurements.

RESULTS

One hundred eighty-nine eyes in 172 patients in Legacy-bevacizumab (95 eyes), Legacy-ranibizumab (84 eyes), or Mixed Group(10 eyes) were switched to aflibercept and followed for 6 months. Significant post-Tx reductions were noted in SRF/CME heights and volumes (all P<.001). Similar findings were noted for PED heights (122.8 μm vs 79.4 μm) and PED volumes (all P<.001). Post-Tx VA was better (20/43 vs 20/51, P<.001). There were no differences between Legacy-bevacizumab and Legacy-ranibizumab groups in OCT and VA changes. Post-Tx VA, SRF/CME, and PED heights and volumes were improved for Nonresponders (suboptimal response to bevacizumab/ranibizumab) (P=.001 to <.001), but not Responders (good responses to same). The only adverse event was a retinal pigment epithelial tear in one eye.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant improvements in vision and OCT metrics developed in Nonresponders but not in Responders. Post-Tx VA and OCT measures were similar for eyes on prior bevacizumab or ranibizumab. Post-Tx adverse events were uncommon.

Adverse events and complications associated with intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF agents: a review of literature

Intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents is increasingly used for the treatment of a wide variety of retinal diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and retinal vascular occlusions, and retinopathy of prematurity. Despite encouraging results in halting the disease and improving the vision, intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF agents may be associated with systemic adverse events and devastating ocular complications. In this review, we provide an overview of safety data for intravitreal injection of common anti-VEGF agents.

Incidence of retinal pigment epithelial tears after intravitreal ranibizumab injection for neovascular age-related macular degeneration

OBJECTIVE

To explore the association between treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and incidence and timing of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) tears in ranibizumab-treated patients versus control treatment.

DESIGN

Results from 3 phase III clinical trials (ANti-VEGF antibody for the treatment of predominantly classic CHORoidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration [ANCHOR], Minimally classic/occult trial of the Anti-VEGF antibody Ranibizumab In the treatment of Neovascular Age-related macular degeneration [MARINA], and A Phase IIIb, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Masked, Sham Injection-Controlled Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Ranibizumab in Subjects with Subfoveal Choroidal Neovascularization [CNV] with or without Classic CNV Secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration [PIER]) were retrospectively reviewed to identify patients who developed RPE tears during the study period, detected on fluorescein angiography performed at prespecified intervals.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients with baseline and post-baseline angiographic assessments.

METHODS

Patients received intravitreal ranibizumab (0.3 or 0.5 mg) or control treatment (verteporfin photodynamic therapy [PDT] in ANCHOR and sham intravitreal injections in ANCHOR, MARINA, and PIER).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Incidence and timing of RPE tears during the treatment period.

RESULTS

Data from 1298 patients were analyzed. No statistically significant differences in RPE tear incidence were observed. The pooled rate of RPE tears was 1.8% with 0.5 mg ranibizumab, 3.0% with 0.3 mg ranibizumab, and 1.6% in the control group. Most (76%; 16/21) RPE tears in ranibizumab-treated patients were identified within 3 months of initiating treatment, whereas the majority (80%; 4/5) of late-onset RPE tears occurred in control patients. In patients who developed RPE tears, better visual acuity (VA) outcomes were observed in those treated with ranibizumab versus control treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

As studied in these trials, no statistically significant differences in the incidence of RPE tears within a 2-year treatment period were observed in patients who received ranibizumab (0.5 or 0.3 mg) versus control treatment, although most RPE tears with ranibizumab occurred within 3 months of initiating treatment. Mean VA was better in patients who developed RPE tears while receiving ranibizumab than in those who received control treatment, suggesting a potential benefit of continued ranibizumab therapy in patients with neovascular AMD who developed RPE tears.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S)

Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.

Retinal pigment epithelium tears after bevacizumab injection

BACKGROUND

The advent of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment for choroidal neovascularization has become the standard of care for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Among the choices, intravitreal bevacizumab, for off-label use, has gained popularity. Recent attention has been on the complications of anti-VEGF treatment, one of them being a retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) tear. A tear in the RPE is a visually devastating complication, most commonly associated with fibrovascular pigment epithelial detachments (PED) in AMD, and may develop during the course of intravitreal bevacizumab treatment.

CASE REPORT

We report a case of an 85-year-old white man with decreased visual acuities of 20/70 in the right eye (O.D.) and 20/150 in the left eye (O.S.) secondary to dry AMD O.D. and wet AMD with a fibrovascular PED O.S. The patient underwent treatment with an intravitreal bevacizumab injection O.S. Six weeks after the initial injection, the patient returned with further declining vision in the left eye secondary to an RPE tear.

CONCLUSION

Intravitreal bevacizumab has proven to be an effective treatment for choroidal neovascularization and shows a significant improvement of vision for wet AMD patients. However, there are risks associated with the procedure. One of the most visually significant is an RPE tear, which can occur at an incidence rate as high as 17%. Optometrists should be aware of this rare, but serious, complication associated with anti-VEGF treatment for wet AMD.

Off-label use of bevacizumab for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration: what is the evidence?

There is an active and controversial debate about the role of intravitreal bevacizumab versus approved drugs in the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Because bevacizumab was available prior to the launch of ranibizumab, off-label use of the former became widespread and the cancer drug bevacizumab is the most commonly used medication in ophthalmology nowadays. This review considers every publication identified in MEDLINE using the keywords 'bevacizumab' and 'Avastin' between 1 June 2005 and 31 July 2008. The search identified 511 papers that were evaluated. In 33 studies, there was consistent and clear evidence for the efficacy of bevacizumab in neovascular AMD. However, the highest grade studies (three prospective, randomized, controlled trials) did not attain better than grade 2b level of evidence, and objective evaluation of the benefit of bevacizumab relative to representative controls was therefore not possible. Certainly, the available evidence is inferior to that obtained from the approval studies of ranibizumab and this should influence treatment selection and guidance of patients. These considerations indicate that important quality criteria need to be included in future studies to ensure more meaningful conclusions can be drawn. These include clearly defined inclusion criteria, information about the recruitment procedure (including data on withdrawals, excluded patients, concealed treatment allocation, use of intention-to-treat analyses and blinded assessment procedures). Although preclinical studies have almost exclusively found bevacizumab to be safe, the design utilized in clinical case series cannot rule out a possible increase in adverse events, which already show a high spontaneous incidence in elderly AMD patients. The superior evidence level for ranibizumab and the limited safety data for bevacizumab must be taken into consideration when evaluating the costs that a healthcare system is willing to spend. However, the superior grade of evidence for ranibizumab should not be confused with the (still missing) evidence for superior efficacy. The results of ongoing randomized, controlled, comparative trials will provide further data on the efficacy and cost effectiveness of bevacizumab and ranibizumab in the treatment of AMD. In the meantime, patients should be informed about the alternatives, the price differences and the restricted liability issue when off-label use of bevacizumab is offered.

Retinal pigment epithelial tears in ranibizumab-treated eyes

PURPOSE

To report the incidence of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) tears in patients treated with ranibizumab therapy for choroidal neovascularization due to age-related macular degeneration.

DESIGN

: Interventional case series.

METHODS

One hundred sixty-four eyes from a large clinical practice were retrospectively reviewed for number of injections and the presence or absence of a fibrovascular retinal pigment epithelial detachment. Main outcome measures were occurrence of RPE tears, and timing of tears following the last injection.

RESULTS

Patients were observed for an average of 11 months. A single patient (0.61%) experienced an RPE tear and this occurred after the first injection. In eyes with a fibrovascular retinal pigment epithelial detachment the incidence was 5%. Lesions containing a fibrovascular retinal pigment epithelial detachment tended to be larger (4.5 versus 3.8 Macular Photocoagulation Study Disc Areas), but this was not statistically significant. (P = 0.63). However, these lesions required more injections on average (P = 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The incidence of RPE tears associated with ranibizumab therapy is low and may result from a predisposition rather than an effect of treatment. Even so, patients undergoing ranibizumab therapy should be counseled regarding this possible complication.

Spontaneous nasal septal perforation with antiangiogenic bevacizumab therapy

Otolaryngologists should be made aware of a newer cause of nasal septal perforations resulting from the more recent antiangiogenic therapy used to treat malignancies. This case describes a 52-year-old white woman who developed a spontaneous nasal septal perforation after given the antiangiogenic drug, bevacizumab, for metastatic ovarian cancer treatment. Bevacizumab is a recently developed monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor receptor used to inhibit angiogenesis. The patient was ultimately treated with a nasal septal button with good symptom relief. This case documents the first report in the otolaryngology literature describing this new etiology for nasal septal perforations.