Short-Term Efficacy of Intravitreal Aflibercept for Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the short-term effect of intravitreal aflibercept (Eylea(R); Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., Tarrytown, NY, USA and Bayer, Basel, Switzerland) on the visual outcomes and retinal anatomic changes of patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). METHODS: Intravitreal Eylea(R) was injected into 16 eyes of 16 patients with PCV in this retrospective case study. After therapy, the patients were followed up for over 3 months. Changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central foveal thickness (CFT) using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and abnormal vasculature on indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean log MAR BCVA was 0.75 +/- 0.60 at baseline, 0.74 +/- 0.60 and 0.71 +/- 0.63 at 1 and 2 months, respectively (p > 0.05) and 0.57 +/- 0.53 at 3 months (p < 0.05) after treatment. The mean CFT was 379 +/- 130 microm at baseline, 281 +/- 92 microm, 247 +/- 54 microm, and 231 +/- 51 microm at 1, 2, and 3 months, respectively, after treatment (p < 0.05). Complete resolution was 43%, 55%, and 50% at 1, 2, and 3 months, respectively in pigment epithelial detachment (PED), 67%, 83%, and 92% at 1, 2, and 3 months, respectively in subretinal fluid (SRF) and 33%, 60%, and 60% at 1, 2, and 3 months, respectively in intraretinal fluid (IRF) using OCT. The polypoidal lesions in ICGA decreased in 12 of 14 eyes (86%). CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal injection of Eylea(R) with PCV reduced CFT due to decreased retinal PED, SRF, IRF and occluded effectively the polypoidal lesion leaking. Compared with baseline, mean BCVA at the 3-month follow-up was significantly improved.