Lucentis therapy ineffective for pigment epithelial detachment

[MyVisionTest]

Lucentis (ranibizumab) is ineffective in treating avascular pigment
epithelial detachment (PED) secondary to age-related macular
degeneration (AMD) over a 1 year follow-up period, according to a new
study.

A PED occurs when fluid enters the space between the retinal pigment
epithelium (RPE) and choroid (Figure). A serous PED is when aqueous
fluid enters this space, a hemorrhage PED is when blood does. PEDs are
often seen in eyes with various types of choroidal vascular
abnormalities in exudative AMD, such as choroidal neovascularization,
polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, and retinal angiomatous
proliferation. There is currently no effective treatment for PED,
although photodynamic therapy and anti-VEGF have been used with some
success. Earlier short-term reports found that anti-VEGF therapy was
superior to photodynamic therapy of PED. Treatment of large PEDs with
anti-VEGF agents have been associated with RPE tears.

In this prospective case series, the first group of six patients
received three and the second group of six patients received six
intravitreal injections of Lucentis (0.5 mg) at monthly intervals.
Outcome measures included the change of PED and retinal volume as
determined by spectral domain optical coherence tomography,
best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and macular sensitivity using
microperimetry.

The mean baseline PED volume of 1.33 mm3 decreased significantly by
42% at month 6 (-0.55 mm3, P

Eye (Lond). 2009 Nov 13. [Epub ahead of print]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19911018

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