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Ranibizumab combined with verteporfin photodynamic therapy in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (FOCUS): year 2 results.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Antoszyk, AN; Tuomi, L; Chung, CY; Singh, A; FOCUS Study Group,
Published in: Am J Ophthalmol
May 2008

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy and adverse-events profile of combined treatment with ranibizumab and verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) in patients with predominantly classic choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to neovascular age-related macular degeneration. DESIGN: Two-year, multicenter, randomized, single-masked, controlled study. METHODS: Patients received monthly intravitreal injections of ranibizumab 0.5 mg (n = 106) or sham injections (n = 56). All patients received PDT on day zero, then quarterly as needed. Efficacy assessment included changes in visual acuity (VA) and lesion characteristics and PDT frequency. Adverse events were summarized by incidence and severity. RESULTS: At month 24, 88% of ranibizumab + PDT patients had lost <15 letters from baseline VA (vs 75% for PDT alone), 25% had gained >or=15 letters (vs 7% for PDT alone), and the two treatment arms differed by 12.4 letters in mean VA change (P < .05 for all between-group differences). The VA benefit of adding ranibizumab to PDT in year one persisted through year two. On average, ranibizumab + PDT patients exhibited less lesion growth and greater reduction of CNV leakage and subretinal fluid accumulation, and required fewer PDT retreatments, than PDT-alone patients (mean = 0.4 vs 3.0 PDT retreatments). Endophthalmitis and serious intraocular inflammation occurred, respectively, in 2.9% and 12.4% of ranibizumab + PDT patients and 0% of PDT-alone patients. Incidences of serious nonocular adverse events were similar in the two treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: Through two years, ranibizumab + PDT was more effective than PDT alone and had a low rate of associated adverse events.

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Published In

Am J Ophthalmol

DOI

ISSN

0002-9394

Publication Date

May 2008

Volume

145

Issue

5

Start / End Page

862 / 874

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Visual Acuity
  • Verteporfin
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Single-Blind Method
  • Ranibizumab
  • Porphyrins
  • Photosensitizing Agents
  • Photochemotherapy
  • Ophthalmology & Optometry
  • Middle Aged
 

Citation

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ICMJE
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Antoszyk, A. N., Tuomi, L., Chung, C. Y., Singh, A., & FOCUS Study Group, . (2008). Ranibizumab combined with verteporfin photodynamic therapy in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (FOCUS): year 2 results. Am J Ophthalmol, 145(5), 862–874. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2007.12.029
Antoszyk, Andrew N., Lisa Tuomi, Carol Y. Chung, Angele Singh, and Angele FOCUS Study Group. “Ranibizumab combined with verteporfin photodynamic therapy in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (FOCUS): year 2 results.Am J Ophthalmol 145, no. 5 (May 2008): 862–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2007.12.029.
Antoszyk AN, Tuomi L, Chung CY, Singh A, FOCUS Study Group. Ranibizumab combined with verteporfin photodynamic therapy in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (FOCUS): year 2 results. Am J Ophthalmol. 2008 May;145(5):862–74.
Antoszyk, Andrew N., et al. “Ranibizumab combined with verteporfin photodynamic therapy in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (FOCUS): year 2 results.Am J Ophthalmol, vol. 145, no. 5, May 2008, pp. 862–74. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.ajo.2007.12.029.
Antoszyk AN, Tuomi L, Chung CY, Singh A, FOCUS Study Group. Ranibizumab combined with verteporfin photodynamic therapy in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (FOCUS): year 2 results. Am J Ophthalmol. 2008 May;145(5):862–874.
Journal cover image

Published In

Am J Ophthalmol

DOI

ISSN

0002-9394

Publication Date

May 2008

Volume

145

Issue

5

Start / End Page

862 / 874

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Visual Acuity
  • Verteporfin
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Single-Blind Method
  • Ranibizumab
  • Porphyrins
  • Photosensitizing Agents
  • Photochemotherapy
  • Ophthalmology & Optometry
  • Middle Aged