Intravitreal infliximab in patients with macular degeneration who are nonresponders to antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of intravitreal infliximab in the treatment of choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration in patients who are nonresponders to antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy.

METHODS

Prospective, noncomparative, interventional case series. The primary inclusion criteria for patients consisted of previous treatment with five or more intravitreal injections of bevacizumab and/or ranibizumab, visual loss, angiographic leakage, and intraretinal and/or subretinal fluid on spectral domain optical coherence tomography. At Day 0, a single intravitreal injection of infliximab (2 mg/0.05 mL) was administered. Best-corrected visual acuity testing measured with Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study charts and spectral domain optical coherence tomography scans were performed on Days 0, 3, 7, 30, 60, and 90. Fluorescein angiography was performed at days 0 and 90. The development of systemic antibodies against infliximab (human antichimeric antibodies) was not sought. Main outcome measures were changes in best-corrected visual acuity, foveal thickness, and lesion size.

RESULTS

We included four patients. At Day 90, the best-corrected visual acuity change was -18, +3, +4, and -4 letters, respectively. Intraretinal and/or subretinal fluid on spectral domain optical coherence tomography scans was not significantly reduced in any case. Lesion size was not reduced in any case. Two patients developed intraocular inflammation with high intraocular pressure 3 and 5 weeks after the infliximab injection, respectively. One case was controlled with topical medication, and one case required posterior vitrectomy.

CONCLUSION

Intravitreal infliximab showed no significant visual or anatomical benefit for the treatment of choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration in patients who were nonresponders to antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy. In addition, half of the cases developed intraocular inflammation.