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¹M.D. Associate Professor, Ankara Training and Research Hospital Eye Clinic, Ankara/TURKEY
²M.D., Ankara Training and Research Hospital Eye Clinic, Ankara/TURKEY Purpose: To assess the time and necessity of re-injection in patients with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration after loading intravitreal (IV) ranibizumab therapy.
Materials and Methods: Between January 2008-May 2011 seventy two eyes of 66 patients that were injected with ranibizumab for the treatment of CNV secondary to age-related macular degeneration with a minimum follow up time of 8 months were reviewed retrospectively. All eyes were initially treated by standard 3 injection of IV ranibizumab and subsequently retreated according to the visual acuity, funduscopic and OCT findings during the monthly follow-up visits. The time of first recurrence after the initial loading phase and the total number of injections were evaluated.
Results: Thirty two patients were female and 34 were male. The mean age was 70.6±8.7 (50-90) and the mean follow-up period was 16.2±6.6 (8-42). Three injections were sufficient in 33 eyes (45.8%) but re-injections were necessary in 39 eyes (54.2%). The mean recurrence time was 5.3±2.9 (1-11) months. The mean number of injections in the re-treatment group was 5.4±1.6 (4-10).
Conclusion: Initial 3 loading dose of IV ranibizumab therapy was effective and sufficient in nearly half of the patients with CNV secondary to age related macular degeneration. The pro needed therapy regimen may reduce the number of injections. Keywords : Age-related macular degeneration, ranibizumab, recurrence