Ranibizumab for treatment of choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the short-term outcomes after intravitreal ranibizumab (Lucentis; Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA) injection in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

METHODS

A review of data for consecutive patients who received intravitreal ranibizumab injection was conducted. The main outcome measures were mean visual acuity and central macular thickness at 3 months compared with those at baseline. Response to ranibizumab therapy was evaluated with particular attention to prior treatment with bevacizumab (Avastin; Genentech, Inc.).

RESULTS

Mean baseline visual acuity of 231 eyes of 231 patients was 20/152, and 189 patients (81.8%) had undergone prior treatment, with 153 (65.4%) having received intravitreal bevacizumab. Mean visual acuity at 3 months, available for 203 patients (88%), was 20/126 (P = 0.004). Mean visual acuity for 98 patients treated with bevacizumab within 3 months before ranibizumab injection was 20/100 at baseline and 20/98 at 3 months (P = 0.35). Mean baseline central macular thickness was 278 microm for all patients and improved to 211 microm at 3 months (P < 0.001). Macular thickness decrease was noted irrespective of previous bevacizumab therapy.

CONCLUSION

Ranibizumab therapy was associated with significant improvements in mean visual acuity and central macular thickness for the group of all patients. Patients who had received bevacizumab treatment within 3 months before initiating ranibizumab treatment had stability of, but no improvement in, visual acuity.