A new treatment algorithm for the management of myopic choroidal neovascularization using intravitreal ranibizumab

Structural and optical coherence tomography angiography in myopic choroidal neovascularization: Agreement with conventional fluorescein angiography

PURPOSE

To evaluate the agreement between fluorescein angiography and structural optical coherence tomography in diagnosing and monitoring the activity of myopic choroidal neovascularization and to provide a comparative analysis with optical coherence tomography angiography.

METHODS

Thirteen patients with active myopic choroidal neovascularization were prospectively enrolled. At the baseline, 2-month, and 6-month visits, each patient underwent a complete ophthalmological examination, including best-corrected visual acuity assessment, fundus examination, fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography with structural and angiographic assessment. Sensitivity and specificity for all optical coherence tomography parameters were evaluated taking fluorescein angiography as the reference examination.

RESULTS

At the baseline, fluorescein angiography confirmed myopic choroidal neovascularization leakage in all patients. Structural optical coherence tomography demonstrated intraretinal or subretinal fluid in 61% of cases, fuzzy borders and absence of external limiting membrane visibility in 84% of cases, and subretinal hyperreflective exudation in 53% of cases. Sensitivity to the presence of retinal fluid and subretinal hyperreflective exudation was lower than sensitivity to fuzzy borders and external limiting membrane visibility, which reached 84%. During ranibizumab therapy, external limiting membrane visibility showed a higher sensitivity (100%) compared with fuzzy borders and subretinal hyperreflective exudation (66.6%) while displaying an equal specificity of 100%. At baseline and final visit, sensitivity increased to 100% when all structural optical coherence tomography parameters were pooled. Optical coherence tomography angiography detected myopic choroidal neovascularization at baseline, 2-month, and 6-month visits in 92%, 76%, and 76% of cases, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The study confirms that the new indicators of myopic choroidal neovascularization activity are more reliable than the presence or absence of retinal fluid. Optical coherence tomography angiography identified myopic choroidal neovascularization in most patients in the diagnostic phase and during treatment monitoring and could be considered as an alternative to fluorescein angiography in selected patients.

LONG-TERM OUTCOMES OF RANIBIZUMAB TREATMENT OF MYOPIC CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULARIZATION IN EAST-ASIAN PATIENTS FROM THE RADIANCE STUDY

A retrospective cohort study of East-Asian patients previously treated with ranibizumab for myopic choroidal neovascularization in the RADIANCE trial. Clinical charts were reviewed to assess long-term efficacy and safety. Visual acuity was sustained for additional 36 months after trial completion with few patients requiring additional treatment and no new safety concerns observed.

Purpose:

To evaluate long-term efficacy and safety of ranibizumab for treatment of myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV) in clinical practice.

Methods:

Noninterventional, retrospective cohort study of East-Asian patients previously treated with ranibizumab during the RADIANCE trial. Forty-one patients who completed the RADIANCE trial were followed-up for up to 48 months (post-RADIANCE observation period). Outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity changes from baseline (assessed at RADIANCE trial initiation), mCNV recurrences, and ocular adverse events.

Results:

Mean visual gain from baseline best-corrected visual acuity (56.5 ± 12.1 letters) (20/80) was significant at 12 months (+14.3 ± 11.4 letters, n = 40, P < 0.0001), 24 months (+10.4 ± 22.3 letters, n = 31, P = 0.0143), 30 months (+11.0 ± 22.4 letters, n = 29, P = 0.0134), 42 months (+12.9 ± 20.9 letters, n = 25, P = 0.0051), and 48 months (+16.3 ± 18.7, n = 16, P = 0.0034). Of the 16 patients who completed 48 months of follow-up, 63% gained ≥10 letters and 13% lost ≥10 letters. Over the post-RADIANCE observation period, 83% of patients required no further treatment for mCNV, 10% experienced mCNV recurrences, and 12% experienced a nonserious ocular adverse event. Patients who required additional treatment for mCNV received a mean of 5.0 (SD 5.9, range 1.0–18.0) ranibizumab injections.

Conclusion:

Best-corrected visual acuity gained at the end of the RADIANCE trial was sustained over additional 36 months of follow-up. Few patients required further treatment and no new safety concerns were observed.

Pharmacotherapy of Myopic Choroidal Neovascularization

BACKGROUND

Myopic choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is a common cause of central visual loss in patients with high myopia, and the most common form of CNV in younger individuals. Pharmacologic therapy is the current mainstay of treatment of these patients.

METHODS

Review of pharmacological treatment options for myopic CNV, which primarily involves intravitreal administration of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents.

RESULTS

At this time, anti-VEGF therapy agents are the first-line therapy in these patients. Comparative trials have not identified any major differences in treatment outcomes between aflibercept, bevacizumab, and ranibizumab. Only ranibizumab is approved for this indication in the US. Best visual outcomes are associated with younger age, smaller lesion size, and absence of chorioretinal atrophy.

CONCLUSION

Anti-VEGF therapy is generally very effective in the treatment of myopic CNV.

The role of anti-VEGF agents in myopic choroidal neovascularization: Current standards and future outlook

INTRODUCTION

The global prevalence of pathologic myopia is 0.9-3.1%, and visual impairment is found in 0.1-0.5% of European and 0.2-1.4% of Asian studies. Myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV) affects 5.2-11.3% of pathologic myopia patients and is a leading cause of vision impairment in the working-age population. Characteristic morphological changes and visual-acuity decrease are diagnostic features. Vascular-Endothelial-Growth-Factor (VEGF) has been identified as a trigger for pathologic neovascularization in these highly myopic patients.

AREAS COVERED

We cover the epidemiology, pathology and diagnostic aspects of mCNV. The history of therapeutic interventions is described, followed by an overview of current standard-of-care (SOC)-blocking VEGF using bevacizumab (off-label), ranibizumab or aflibercept and improving vision up to 13.5-14.4 letters. Despite good efficacy, an unmet medical need remains. We summarize ongoing and future developments of new drugs to treat or potentially cure mCNV.

EXPERT OPINION

mCNV is a major global health concern. Early detection and treatment is key for a satisfying outcome. The current SOC, VEGF inhibitors, affords good therapeutic efficacy and reasonable disease stabilization with few intravitreal treatments per year. However, the long-term prognosis is still unsatisfactory, and side-effects like chorioretinal atrophy development are of concern. Therefore, efforts should be intensified to develop more effective therapies.