Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To study the safety and efficacy of intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF antibody fragment (rhuFab VEGF) in combination with intravenous verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) on experimental choroidal neovascularization in the monkey. Methods: Choroidal neovasculariation was induced by laser injury in both eyes of cynomolgus monkeys and followed with weekly fundus photography and fluroescein angiography. Two weeks after induction, weekly treatments were started using intravitreal injection of rhuFab VEGF or placebo and PDT. Nine animals received intravitreal injections alternating with PDT. Six of these animals (group I) initially received intravitreal injections and were followed for 63 days. Three of these animals (group II) initially received PDT and were followed for 56 days. Two animals (group III) received injections and PDT the same day at two week intervals and were followed for 56 days. Fluorescein angiograms were graded using a masked, standardized protocol. The data were analyzed using the Stuart-Maxwell chi-square test for matched-pair analysis. Results: Three weeks after the start of treatment, 11 of 11 eyes treated with a combination of rhuFab VEGF injections and PDT showed no leakage from CNV on fluorescein angiography. This finding persisted for 6 weeks of follow-up. In those animals treated with placebo injections and PDT, 7 of 11 eyes showed no leakage from CNV, and 4 showed persistent leakage at 3 weeks. At 6 weeks, 9 of 11 eyes showed no leakage, and 2 eyes showed persistent leakage. Conclusion: Preliminary data indicate that intravitreal rhuFab VEGF in combination with verteporfin PDT causes greater reduction in angiographic leakage than PDT alone in experimental choroidal neovascularization.