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. 2021 Jun 25;13(6):e15916.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.15916. eCollection 2021 Jun.

A Comparative Study of Ranibizumab and Aflibercept for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: 12-Month Outcomes of Polish Therapeutic Program in Non-Tertiary Institution

Tomasz Skrzypczak  1 , Aleksandra Jany  1 , Ewa Bugajska-Abramek  2 , Joanna Bogusławska  2 , Agnieszka Kowal-Lange  2
Affiliations

A Comparative Study of Ranibizumab and Aflibercept for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: 12-Month Outcomes of Polish Therapeutic Program in Non-Tertiary Institution

Tomasz Skrzypczak et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Introduction This single-center study aimed to compare the 12-month treatment outcomes of ranibizumab with that of aflibercept in routine clinical practice. Methods Cohort of patients diagnosed with treatment-naïve neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), treated using either ranibizumab (n = 33 eyes) or aflibercept (n = 44 eyes) monotherapy over a 12-month follow-up period was analyzed. Anonymous data were extracted from the electronic database dedicated to the drug program. Results In the ranibizumab group, there were no statistically significant changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study [ETDRS] letters) and central retina thickness (CRT) (µm), between baseline (67.9 ± 8.6 & 384.9 ± 97.9) and at 12 months (67.9 ± 12.1 & 398.9 ± 127.1; P = 0.372 & P = 0.884, respectively). In the aflibercept, there was an improvement in BCVA and reduction in CRT between baseline (64.2 ± 8.1 & 414.3 ± 97.8) and at 12 months (70.7 ± 7.4 & 342.3 ± 71.6; P < 0.001 & P < 0.001, respectively). There was no difference in BCVA between the two groups at either diagnosis (P = 0.101) or 12 months (P = 0.917). Mean number of injections in the ranibizumab group was significantly lower (4.9 ± 1.5) than in the aflibercept group (6.7 ± 1; P < 0.001). Conclusions One initial injection of ranibizumab and then pro re nata (PRN) regimen resulted in stabilization of disease progression. Drug selection and treatment scheme could influence twelve-months outcomes. In the aflibercept group, three initial monthly injections and then every two months provided both significant BCVA improvement and CRT reduction at 12 months of treatment.

Keywords: aflibercept; aflibercept intravitreal injection; amd; ranibizumab; ranibizumab intravitreal injection; therapeutic program.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Changes in BCVA in patients treated with ranibizumab or aflibercept.
BCVA: best-corrected visual acuity; ETDRS: Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Changes in CRT (µm) in patients treated with ranibizumab or aflibercept.
CRT: central retina thickness.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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