Abstract
Purpose :
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the functional and anatomical effects of switching to brolucizumab in exudative age-related macular degeneration.
Methods :
This retrospective study assessed 41 eyes of 41 patients of exudative age-related macular degeneration cases treated with aflibercept and switched to brolucizumab for one year. We evaluated functional and anatomical parameters including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness(CRT), central choroidal thickness(CCT）and pigment epithelial detachment (PED) height at 1,3,6 and 12 months after the first brolucizumab injection. Change in the interval of anti-VEGF injections between before and after switching to brolucizumab was also evaluated.
Results :
The patients did not show a significant change in BCVA at all time points from baseline.CRT was significantly decreased at all time points (p<0.05). CCT and PED height decreased significantly at 6 months after the first brolucizumab injection (each p<0.05), but not at 12 months. The injection interval was significantly extended from 6.3±3.2 weeks to 13.7±9.2 weeks (p<0.01). The mean change of the injection interval was 7.4±8.1. The mean number of brolucizumab injections during the observation period was 5.4±1.9.
Conclusions :
Switching from aflibercept to brolucizumab was effective for anatomical improvement and extending injection intervals. Switching to brolucizumab is expected to reduce the burden of frequent injections in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration.
This abstract was presented at the 2022 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Denver, CO, May 1-4, 2022, and virtually.