Randomized Trial of Treat-and-Extend Intravitreal Aflibercept for Radiation Retinopathy: 1-Year Outcomes

ARRT Study Group

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

PURPOSE: Radiation retinopathy (RR)-related macular edema commonly causes poor visual acuity outcomes in patients previously treated with ocular radiation therapy. Current treatments are not US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved and prior studies have variable outcomes. We performed a multicenter, prospective, randomized clinical trial to assess the safety and efficacy of 2 mg intravitreal aflibercept injections (IAIs) for the treatment of RR.

METHODS: Thirty-nine eyes in 39 patients with RR-related macular edema causing vision loss were assigned randomly to cohorts (1:1 ratio) in which patients either did or did not receive a loading dose of 3 IAIs followed by a treat-and-extend regimen. The primary outcome measure was the mean Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) change from baseline.

RESULTS: Of the 39 randomized patients, 30 (76.9%) completed the year 1 follow-up visit. The overall mean BCVA change from baseline was 4.3 letters (P = 0.087), with 1.57 letters and 6.69 letters gained in cohorts 1 and 2, respectively (P = 0.31). There was a significant difference in central retinal thickness (CRT) from baseline to week 52 overall (484.4 µm to 326.5 µm) and within cohorts 1 (441.2 µm to 311.1 µm) and 2 (522.3 µm to 339.9 µm), respectively (P < 0.001). A total of 96.7% of the patients had visual acuity of 20/200 or better, and 30.0% improved 10 or more letters.

CONCLUSIONS: Aflibercept may improve CRT and may prevent vision loss in patients with RR using a treat-and-extend regimen through 52 weeks of therapy. Larger, multicenter studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number35
Pages (from-to)35
JournalInvestigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
Volume64
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2023

Keywords

  • aflibercept
  • anti-VEGF
  • central retinal thickness (CRT)
  • macular edema
  • radiation retinopathy (RR)
  • Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor/therapeutic use
  • Prospective Studies
  • Intravitreal Injections
  • Humans
  • Macular Edema/diagnosis
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins/therapeutic use
  • Ranibizumab/therapeutic use

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Sensory Systems
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
  • Ophthalmology

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