Abstract
Purpose :
The present study aims at understanding the potential of subconjunctival administration route for treating Age related macular degeneration (ARMD) which could be minimally invasive as compare to the currently available intravitreal injection. Hence, we studied the efficacy of subconjunctival aflibercept to inhibit choroidal neovascularization in CNV mice model.
Methods :
Twenty four mice were divided into 4 groups. All animals were anesthetized using ketamine hydrochloride and xylazine hydrochloride before the subconjunctival injection of aflibercept. Group 1 served as a control, treated with subconjunctival injection of phosphate buffer saline (PBS). Group 2, 3 and 4 received single subconjunctival injection of aflibercept 10, 30 and 50 ug dose respectively. Three laser burns were placed in eyes at 9, 12, and 3 o’clock positions around the optic disk to rupture the Bruch’s membrane. The CNV area was measured for mean area of leakage in each group and compared against the PBS treated control group and between day 0 versus 21 for statistically significant difference.
Results :
The results showed, mean area of leakage was reduced significantly (p=0.0057) in high dose group (50 ug) when compared with day 0 vs 21. The effect of 50 ug aflibercept on day 21 showed it could significantly (p=0.0348) reduce the mean area of leakage when compared with the control group. The results of the present study show subconjunctival aflibercept reaches the therapeutic target to inhibit choroidal neovascularization.
Conclusions :
The single subconjunctival administration of aflibercept could have a potential to treat wet ARMD. More studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of subconjunctival aflibercept in large animal models to further validate the concept of subconjunctival aflibercept treatment for wet ARMD.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.