Abstract
Purpose :
PRN (Pro Re Nata) monthly treatment is the preferred treatment modality for most of the studies involving antiVGEF drugs. However, results obtained in actual clinical practice are lower that predicted due to the burden of monthly visits and injections. A 6 weeks PRN regimen can improve the accompliment of patients while maintaining the benefits of treatment.
Methods :
Retrospective analysis of all patients treated with intravitreal injections from May 2014 to May 2015. Eyes with 6 or more visits and completed loading dose were selected for analysis.. Disease activity were monitorized with SD-OCT in all visits. Intravitreal injection were delivered in the same visit if needed. Group analysis were based on disease (AMD, DME and Vein occlusion) recording number of annual visits and injections. Visual acuity benefit was calculated for each group.
Results :
Data from 138 eyes from 127 patients were recorded. Total visits: 820. Total injections: 497. 100 eyes (72%) achieved 6 or more visits during the study period. Total visit average per year: 6.72. Total intravitreal injection averaged per year: 4,20. Total Visual accuity benefit: +0.57. AMD: Visits/year: 6.88. Injections/year: 4.05. VA changes from baseline: -0.33. DME: Visits/year: 6.77. Injections/year: 4.76. VA changes from baseline: +0.71. Vein occlusion: Visits/year: 6.71. Injections/year: 3.71. VA changes from baseline: +3.11. Drug use: Ranibizumab (64%), Aflibercept (27%), Ozurdex (5%), Avastin (4%). Switch of drugs: 18 eyes. Aflibercept: 13 cases. Ranibizumab: 2 cases. Ozurdex: 3 cases.
Conclusions :
6 weeks PRN regimen can achieve a good balance between number of visits and drug efficiency use. Mantaining visual acuity is possible for a large number of patients while reducing the burden of intravitreal treatments.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.