Central retinal vein occlusion 36-month outcomes with anti-vascular endothelial growth factors: the Fight Retinal Blindness! registry
Abstract
Purpose: To analyze the 3-year outcomes in a broad population of patients starting VEGF inhibitors for central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) in routine clinical practice.
Design: Observational database study.
Participants: Overall, 527 treatment-naïve CRVO eyes that commenced VEGF inhibitors between December 1, 2010 and 2018 were tracked in the Fight Retinal Blindness! registry.
Methods: Longitudinal models were used to plot changes in visual acuity (VA) and central subfield thickness (CST).
Main outcome measures: Mean change in VA from baseline to 36 months, injections, visits, completion, switching, and suspensions of therapy > 180 days at the final review.
Results: Overall (527 eyes) mean VA change (95% confidence interval [CI]) was + 10 (7, 12) letters, 37% had final VA ≥ 70 and 30% ≤ 35 letters, mean CST changed -306 μm. Completers (257/527, 49%) had mean 36-month changes in VA and CST of + 12 letters and -324 μm with a median of 18 injections at 26 visits. The adjusted mean VA change was similar to each VEGF inhibitor (mean, + 11.4 letters) despite a greater reduction in CST with aflibercept (-310 μm) versus ranibizumab (-258 μm) versus bevacizumab (-216 μm; P < 0.001). Eyes with baseline VA that was trial-eligible (19-73 letters; 356/527, 68%) gained 7 letters, very poor ( 73 letters; 42/527, 8%) lost 7 letters. Switching (160/527, 30%) was most often to aflibercept (79 eyes). By using suspensions and discontinuation reasons, we identified similar proportions had ceased therapy (154/527, 29%) and were still receiving it at 36 months (165/527, 31%). Only 62/527 eyes (12%) had resolution of macular edema without treatment for > 6 months.
Conclusions: Patients with CRVO that commenced VEGF inhibitors in routine care for whom follow-up was available had VA improvements of around 12 letters at 3 years, but with > 50% lost to follow-up, the VA outcome for the entire group was likely worse. The choice of VEGF inhibitor influenced CST but not VA outcomes. We estimated that around half of the eyes were still receiving injections after 36 months.
Financial disclosure(s): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.
Keywords: Aflibercept; Bevacizumab; CRVO; Ranibizumab.