TREAT-AND-EXTEND REGIMEN USING RANIBIZUMAB FOR POLYPOIDAL CHOROIDAL VASCULOPATHY: One-Year Results

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of a treat-and-extend regimen (TER) using ranibizumab to treat polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 29 patients with PCV, who had been treated with a TER for 1 year. The primary outcome was the proportion of eyes that did not lose ≥3 best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) lines. The number of intravitreal injections and recurrences as well as the maximum treatment interval without recurrence were analyzed.

Results: The mean BCVA improved from 0.64 ± 0.42 logMAR (median, 20/80) at baseline to 0.30 ± 0.31 logMAR (median, 20/30) at 12 months (P < 0.001). The mean central subfield macular thickness improved from 307.0 ± 70.2 μm to 237.5 ± 64.4 μm (P < 0.001). None of the subjects lost ≥3 lines, and 15 (51.7%) gained ≥3 lines. The mean number of injections was 7.0. The mean maximum treatment interval without recurrence was 10.0 weeks. After the loading phase, 12 eyes (41.4%) showed no recurrence. Seven eyes (24.1%) demonstrated disease activity at 12 months, and 4 (13.8%) of them were never dry during the entire 12-month follow-up duration.

Conclusion: The TER effectively improved visual acuity in PCV while reducing the number of injections.