scholarly journals Long-Term Outcomes of Rheohaemapheresis in the Treatment of Dry Form of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Studnička ◽  
Eva Rencová ◽  
Milan Bláha ◽  
Pavel Rozsíval ◽  
Miriam Lánská ◽  
...  

Purpose. Determining long-term effects of rheohaemapheresis on the dry form of age-related macular degeneration.Methods. This study evaluates 19 patients, average age of 67.6 years, treated with rheohaemapheresis and 18 patients, average age of 72.8 years, comprising the control group. Minimum follow up period was 3.5 years. Each treated patient received a series of 8 sessions of rheohaemapheresis of 1.5 plasma volumes within 10 weeks. We measured the drusenoid pigment epithelium detachment (DPED), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), electroretinography (ERG), and rheological parameters.Results. In the treatment group, the baseline BCVA was 0.74 (0.36–1.0) 95% CI and BCVA after 3.5 years was 0.79 (0.41–1.0) 95% CI (P=0.726). In the control group, the baseline BCVA was 0.71 (0.15–1.0) 95% CI and BCVA after 3.5 years decreased to 0.7 (0.32–0.87) 95% CI (P=0.031). Baseline DPED was 6.78 ± 3.79 mm2; after 3.5 years, it decreased to 4.13 ± 3.84 mm2(P<0.001). In the control group, the baseline DPED was 4.09 ± 3.48 mm2; after 3.5 years, it increased to 6.69 ± 4.2 mm2(P=0.001). We noted increasing levels of positive wave peaking at 50 milliseconds (P50) after treatment (P=0.022) and a stable amplitude of photopic responses of treated patients.Conclusion. Over the long term, rheohaemapheresis reduced the DPED, improved the function of photoreceptors, and prevented the decline of BCVA.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimír Blaha ◽  
Hana Langrová ◽  
Milan Blaha ◽  
Jan Studnička ◽  
Alexander Stěpanov ◽  
...  

Abstract Background. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive chronic disease with resulting visual impairment or even blindness with limited therapeutic options. Because hyperlipidemia is a significant risk factor for AMD development we investigated long-term effects of rheohaemapheresis in the dry form of age-related macular degeneration on the lipid related parameters including PCSK9.Methods. This study evaluates 31 patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), treated with rheohaemapheresis. The followed-up period was 7 years. Average age was 69.1 ± 4.9 years. Each treated patient received a series of 8 sessions of rheohaemapheresis. 2 additional procedures within 1-week procedures were performed to boost the effect after the 2-year period. We measured the drusenoid pigment epithelium detachment (DPED), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), electroretinography (ERG), lipid, inflammatory, endothelial dysfunction and rheologically important parameters. Results. Rheohaemapheresis treatment in AMD patients was associated with a significant decrease of total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, apoprotein B, and lipoprotein (a) levels, biomarkers of inflammation, endothelial dysfunction (CD40L, MCP-1) and rheologically important parameters, and serum PCSK9 (P<0.001). The patients were further divided into 2 groups based on the ophtalmological examination. Successfully treated patients (n=10, with at least a 5-year follow-up) had significantly lower baseline LDL-C and ApoB (P<0.05) and their serum PCSK9 significantly decreased after rheohaemapheresis (P<0.001) in comparison to the patients where treatment failured (n=4). Conclusion. Over the long term, rheohaemapheresis reduced the DPED, improved the function of photoreceptors, and prevented the decline of BCVA. BCVA improvement was accompanied by lowering of LDL-C and PCSK9 and improvement of endothelial dysfunction. We suggest that rheohaemapheresis and other novel anti-PCSK9 therapies may be used synergistically to reduce severity, slow down or even induce regression of AMD.


2021 ◽  
pp. bjophthalmol-2021-319054
Author(s):  
Brice Nguedia Vofo ◽  
Gala Beykin ◽  
Jaime Levy ◽  
Itay Chowers

AimsTo evaluate the long-term functional and anatomical outcomes of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD) treated with intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) for up to 10 years, and to identify associated risk factors.MethodsClinical and optical coherence tomography findings were retrieved for nvAMD cases treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF compounds using a treat-and-extend protocol. In addition, the major risk alleles for AMD in the CFH (rs1061170), HTRA1 (rs1200638) and C3 (rs2230199) genes were genotyped.ResultsFrom 276 eligible eyes in 206 patients, 80 eyes (29%) in 66 patients (32.0%) had a follow-up period of ≥8 years and were included in this study. Over a 10-year period, 73.3±28.0 (mean±SD) anti-VEGF injections were administered. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA; LogMAR) deteriorated from 0.55±0.53 at baseline to 1.00±0.73 at 10 years (p<0.0005). Central subfield thickness (CST) decreased from 415.8±162.1 µm at baseline to 323±113.6 µm (p<0.0005) after three monthly injections and remained lower than baseline throughout the follow-up period. Visual outcome was associated with BCVA and intraretinal fluid (IRF) at baseline, macular atrophy, and macular thinning at follow-up. The decrease in CST was inversely correlated with the number of CFH and/or C3 risk alleles carried by the patient (Pearson’s r: −0.608; p=0.003).ConclusionsPatients with nvAMD who received anti-VEGF therapy for 10 years developed substantial vision loss associated with the presence of IRF at baseline and macular atrophy. Major risk alleles for AMD in two complement genes were associated with a reduced long-term reduction in macular thickness.


2020 ◽  
pp. bjophthalmol-2020-316514
Author(s):  
Damian Jaggi ◽  
Thanoosha Nagamany ◽  
Andreas Ebneter ◽  
Marion Munk ◽  
Sebastian Wolf ◽  
...  

AimTo report long-term outcomes on best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and treatment intervals with a treat-and-extend (T&E) regimen in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).MethodsThis observational study included treatment-naïve patients with nAMD, treated with aflibercept. A specific T&E protocol without a loading phase and predefined exit criteria was administered. After reaching predefined ‘exit-criteria’, the treatment period was complete, and patients were observed three monthly.ResultsEighty-two patients with a follow-up period of ≥2 years were included. BCVA (mean±SD, ETDRS letters) increased from 51.9±25.2 at baseline to 63.7±17.7 (p<0.0001) at 1 year, 61.7±18.5 (p<0.0001) at 2 years, 62.4±19.5 (p<0.0001, n=61) at 3 years and remained insignificantly higher than baseline at 4 years at 58.5±24.3 (p=0.22). Central subfield thickness (mean±SD, μm) decreased significantly from 387.5±107.6 (p<0.0001) at baseline to 291.9±65.5 (p<0.0001) at 1 year, and remained significantly lower until 4 years at 289.0±59.4 (p<0.0001). Treatment intervals (mean±SD, weeks) could be extended up to 9.3±3.1 weeks at 1 year and remained at 11.2±3.5 weeks at 4 years. Twenty-nine (35%) patients reached exit criteria and continued with three monthly observation only.ConclusionsAfter 4 years of treatment, initial vision gains were maintained with a reasonable treatment burden, even without an initial loading phase. Our results on functional outcomes are comparable with large controlled studies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Jong In You ◽  
Kiyoung Kim

Purpose. To evaluate the clinical characteristics and long-term prognosis of pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PCN) when compared with type 1 neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Methods. We retrospectively analyzed 30 and 60 patients whose eyes were diagnosed as treatment-naïve PCN or type 1 nAMD, respectively. All subjects were followed up for 5 years. Baseline angiographic characteristics and long-term clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results. PCN group consisted of patients of younger age and represented more choroidal vascular hyperpermeability, polypoidal lesion, and history of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) at the time of diagnosis (all p  < 0.01). During the 5-year follow-up period, individuals in the PCN group received significantly fewer injections and reported better visual acuity compared to individuals in the type 1 nAMD group. A progressive decrease in the subfoveal choroidal thickness was observed in the type 1 nAMD group, while the thick choroid was maintained in the PCN group during the 5-year follow-up period. Conclusions. PCN developed in younger patients with a higher propensity of forming polypoidal lesions and a history of CSC. Long-term outcomes revealed that PCN had a thicker choroid and better visual prognosis with fewer number of intravitreal injection than that of type 1 nAMD.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Rencová ◽  
Milan Bláha ◽  
Jan Studnička ◽  
Vladimír Bláha ◽  
Miriam Lánská ◽  
...  

Aim. To evaluate the long-term effect of rheohemapheresis (RHF) treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) on photoreceptor IS/OS junction status.Methods. In our study, we followed 24 patients with dry AMD and drusenoid retinal pigment epithelium detachment (DPED) for a period of more than 2.5 years. Twelve patients (22 eyes) were treated by RHF and 12 controls (18 eyes) were randomized. The treated group underwent 8 RHF standardized procedures. We evaluated best-corrected visual acuity, IS/OS junction status (SD OCT), and macular function (multifocal electroretinography) at baseline and at 2.5-year follow-up.Results. RHF caused a decrease of whole-blood viscosity/plasma viscosity at about 15/12%. BCVA of treated patients increased insignificantlyP=0.187from median 74.0 letters (56.2 to 81.3 letters) to median 79.0 letters (57.3 to 83.4 letters), but it decreased significantly from 74.0 letters (25.2 to 82.6 letters) to 72.5 letters (23.4 to 83.1 letters) in the control groupP=0.041. The mfERG responses in the region of eccentricity between 1.8° and 7° were significantly higher in treated patientsP=0.04.Conclusions. RHF contributed to sparing of photoreceptor IS/OS junction integrity in the fovea, which is assumed to be a predictive factor for preservation of visual acuity.


2016 ◽  
Vol 157 (42) ◽  
pp. 1683-1690
Author(s):  
Miklós Resch ◽  
Csilla Németh ◽  
György Barcsay ◽  
Mónika Ecsedy ◽  
Ágnes Borbándy ◽  
...  

Introduction: Vascular endothelial growth factor antibody therapy is an established treatment of exsudative age-related macular degeneration. Aim: The morphologic characterisation of the macular microvasculature after longstanding treatment. Method: Forty-eight patients (34 women and 14 men; age, 74.4 ± 8.0 years) were enrolled in the study. During follow-up time (53.8 ± 31.0 months), 7.6 ± 4.9 injections were administered in 56 eyes. Optical coherence tomography angiographic examination was performed with AngioVue (Optovue Inc. Fremont, CA, USA). Results: Distortion of the superficial retinal plexus and foveal avascular zone enlargement were noted in 5/56 eyes, deep retinal plexus defect was detected in 9/56 cases. Destruction of the choriocapillaries and the former neovascularisation could be found in 4 different patterns: 1. pigment epithelium and choriocapillary atrophy, 2. submacular scar, 3. active leaking choroidal neovascularisation, 4. intraretinal cysts. Conclusion: Optical coherence tomography angiography is a novel non-invasive method, which enables the follow up of macular degeneration. Orv. Hetil., 2016, 157(42), 1683–1690.


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