Universität zu Köln

Enders, Philip ORCID: 0000-0002-9527-4957, Muether, Philipp S., Hermann, Manuel, Ristau, Tina and Fauser, Sascha (2015). LONG-TERM ALTERATIONS OF SYSTEMIC VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR LEVELS IN PATIENTS TREATED WITH RANIBIZUMAB FOR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION. Retin.-J. Retin. Vitr. Dis., 35 (3). S. 454 - 459. PHILADELPHIA: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. ISSN 1539-2864

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Abstract

Purpose: To analyze long-term changes of systemic vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in patients treated with ranibizumab for neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Methods: Sixty-one patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration and 68 age-matched controls were included in the study. Patients were treated with ranibizumab on a pro re nata regimen. Plasma samples were collected before initiation of treatment and after 1 year (30 patients) or 2 years (31 patients) of treatment. Vascular endothelial growth factor was measured by Luminex microbead analysis. Results: At baseline, patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration and controls did not differ significantly in VEGF levels (P = 0.062). There was a significant decline in systemic VEGF levels of 39.5% after 1 year (34.2 +/- 17.2 pg/mL to 20.7 +/- 14.0 pg/mL; P = 7.50 x 10(-5)) and of 46.7% after 2 years (40.4 +/- 24.1 pg/mL to 21.5 +/- 23.3 pg/mL; P = 2.48 x 10(-4)) of treatment. Patients with persistent activity of choroidal neovascularization showed a significantly smaller decrease of plasma VEGF levels than patients with dry intervals despite the higher number of injections (P = 0.048). Conclusion: In addition to immediate effects limited to days if not hours, ranibizumab also leads to long-term alterations of systemic VEGF to subnormal levels. Patients with persistent choroidal neovascularization activity showed a less pronounced VEGF decrease. Therefore, VEGF levels might be a useful marker for treatment response.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Enders, Philip UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0002-9527-4957 UNSPECIFIED Muether, Philipp S. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Hermann, Manuel UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Ristau, Tina UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Fauser, Sascha UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-406202
DOI:	10.1097/IAE.0000000000000320
Journal or Publication Title:	Retin.-J. Retin. Vitr. Dis.
Volume:	35
Number:	3
Page Range:	S. 454 - 459
Date:	2015
Publisher:	LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
Place of Publication:	PHILADELPHIA
ISSN:	1539-2864
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language INTRAVITREAL INJECTION; PLASMA-LEVELS; BEVACIZUMAB; TRIAL Multiple languages Ophthalmology Multiple languages
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/40620