Retrospective Study of Macugen Treatment in Naïve Eyes With Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Abstract

Purpose:: To evaluate the efficacy of pegaptanib sodium in naïve eyes with wet age related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods:: Medical charts of 196 patients with wet AMD who were treated with pegaptanib sodium from January 2005 to March of 2006 was retrospectively reviewed. Patients were treated by 11 retina physicians in 10 offices of Illinois Retina Associates. 54 patients were excluded from this study due to previous treatments (laser, kenalog, photodynamic therapy, vitrectomy), lack of fluorescein angiography records, and unclear previous history. 132 patients (85 females, 47 males) with wet AMD who had not received any previous treatment were included in the study. The average age was 81 (range 49-97). The best corrected visual acuity was recorded with the Snellen scale before and after pegaptanib sodium treatment. The recorded Snellen vision was converted to the ETDRS vision and the number of lines gained or lost was calculated.

Results:: The average number of intravitreal pegaptanib sodium injections per patient was 4.23 (range 1-9), for a total of 558 injections in 132 patients. 24 (18.18 %) had a significant improvement in vision (improved ≥ 3 lines), 89 (67.42 %) maintained or improved vision (lost ≤ 0 lines), 111 (84.09 %) did not have a significant vision loss (lost ≤ 3 lines), and 21 (24.49 %) patients had a significant loss of vision (lost more than 3 lines). In patients who received at least 3 intravitreal injections (97 patients), 21 (21.65 %) had a significant improvement in vision (improved ≥ 3 lines), 68 (70.11 %) maintained or improved vision (lost ≤ 0 lines), 83 (85.58 %) did not have a significant vision loss (lost ≤ 3 lines), and 14 (14.43 %) patients had a significant loss of vision (lost more than 3 lines).

Conclusions:: Intravitreal pegaptanib sodium injections stabilized the visual acuity in patients with wet AMD who had not received any previous treatment. A subgroup of these patients showed the tendency of visual improvement after treatment.

Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • retina