Initial experience in treating polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy with brolucizumab in Indian eyes - A multicenter retrospective study.

PURPOSE

To report the initial experience of managing treatment-resistant and treatment-naïve eyes with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) by using brolucizumab 6 mg.

METHODS

This was a retrospective multicentric series of all consecutive eyes with PCV treated with brolucizumab. Treatment resistance was defined as taking at least six prior anti-VEGF injections over the past 1 year and showing persistent disease activity in the form of intra (IRF) or subretinal fluid (SRF) or both. All patients were treated on a pro re nata (PRN) basis and followed up monthly. Retreatment was considered when either SRF or IRF were present at any time point during the study.

RESULTS

We included 21 eyes of 21 patients with PCV with a mean age of 65.1 ± 9.9 years, of which 16 eyes (76%) were treatment-resistant. The mean follow-up period from receiving the first brolucizumab was 27.3 ± 3.3 weeks. Of the 21 eyes, seven eyes (33%) received three injections during follow-up, 13 eyes (62%) received two injections, and one eye received one injection. The mean injection-free interval was 12 ± 1.2 weeks. The median pretreatment vision was 0.6 logMAR (IQR = 0.47-1 logMAR) and improved to 0.3 logMAR (IQR = 0.25-0.6 logMAR), whereas the mean macular thickness improved from 443 ± 60 μm at baseline to 289 ± 25 μm (P < 0.001) at the last follow-up period. None of the eyes experienced any intraocular inflammation across 48 injection sessions.

CONCLUSION

Brolucizumab is safe and effective in controlling PCV disease in both treatment-resistant and treatment-naïve eyes.