Abstract

SA.16.05

Effects of Ranibizumab vs. Bevacizumab in patients with choroidal neovascularization in exudative age-related macular degeneration

Mehrdad Attaran, Fariba Mohammadi-Rad, Burkhard Wiechens
Augenklinik, Klinikum Region Hannover Nordstadt, Hannover

Objective
To provide evidence for the effect of Ranibizumab vs. Bevacizumab on visual acuity (VA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) in exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration (eARMD).
Methods
For this retrospective study 175 (Ranibiumab 97; Bevacizumab 77) patients were evaluated and re-examined. The average age of the patients in the ranibizumab group was 79.2 years in the bevacizumab group 81 years. In every patient clinical evaluation included fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Intravitreal injection of Lucentis® 0,5 mg and Avastin® 1,25mg was performed under sterile conditions after application of scandicain gel and betadine solution. The mean follow-up was 18.7 months.
Results
After an average of 4 injections (range: 3-7) visual acuity “increased, remained unchanged or decreased” in Ranibizumab group “57%, 22% and 22%” and in bevazizumab group “47%, 22,5% and 31%”. In OCT readings average retinal thickness decreased in the ranibizumab group by 120.4µm (957-257µm) and in the bevazizumab group by 98.9µm (639-245µm). No significant ocular side effects were observed. The most common ocular complaints of patients were transient conjunctival hemorrhage, vitreous floaters and eye pain. The rates of serious adverse events such as retinal detachment, cataract and RPE-rip were similar to those that have been reported in other studies.
There were no significant non-ocular events found during this time so far and the risk of thromboembolic events was less than 2% (0.013).
Conclusions
Intravitreal Ranibizumab vs. Bevazizumab was effective in significantly increasing mean BCVA and reducing CRT (Central retinal thickness). There was slight statistical significance in favor of ranibizumab. This beneficial outcome was achieved with a low-rate of mild ocular adverse effects among our patients. Controlled trials are needed to evaluate potential differences between bevazizumab and ranibizumab.

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