Abstract
Purpose:
Recent studies have suggested that use of systemic beta blockers and ACE inhibitors can induce regression of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). The purpose of this study is to evaluate if these agents including beta blockers, ACE Inhibitors (ACEI) and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs) have a protective effect against the development of CNV in patients with AMD.
Methods:
In this single-center retrospective case-control study, the charts of 250 patients with neovascular AMD were compared to those of 250 matched controls with dry AMD. Charts were reviewed for current and past use of beta blocks, ACEI and ARBs. Frequency tables were generated, and associations examined using Chi squared with Yates' continuity correction and t-tests.
Results:
There was not a statistically significant difference between rates of beta blocker use (p = 0.57), ACEI use (p = 0.20) or ARB use (p = 0.61) between the two groups. Additionally, there was no statistically significant difference between rates of use of combinations of the above drugs between the two groups.
Conclusions:
While some have suggested that systemic beta blockers and ACEI can induce regression of CNV, this retrospective study could not detect a protective effect on the development of CNV in patients with AMD. Limits of this study include that patient data from only a single center was analyzed and the difference in duration of use of each agent was not examined.
Keywords: 412 age-related macular degeneration •
453 choroid: neovascularization