Is There a Dose-Response Relationship? Real-World Outcomes of Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Treatment in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Abstract

<b><i>Purpose:</i></b> The aim of study was to explore the dose-response relationship of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents, with bevacizumab as 1st-line treatment, on the visual-acuity (VA) outcome during the first year of treatment in neovascular AMD (nAMD) patients in real-life conditions. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> This was a retrospective, observational, single-center study at the Ophthalmology Division, Tel Aviv Medical Center. Inclusion criterion was naive AMD patients treated with anti-VEGF injections between the years 2017–2020. Electronic medical records were scanned using the MDClone software, and data from time of diagnosis, containing baseline VA, final VA, number of injections, and the injected agent, were gathered. Subjects were divided into three groups based on their baseline VA (“<i>good</i>,” “<i>middle</i>,” <i>and</i> “<i>low</i>”). <b><i>Results:</i></b> A total of 672 patients were included. The cohort demonstrated a statistically nonsignificant correlation with a positive trend between the log transformation of the number of annual injections and the change in VA (<i>p</i> = 0.145). However, a significant correlation was established within the “<i>low-VA</i>” group (<i>p</i> = 0.015). The “good-” and “middle-VA” groups did not reach statistical significance. Baseline VA was the single significant predictor for VA gain within patients with baseline VA of 6/12 or less. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> A dose-response relationship between anti-VEGF injections and the VA outcome was found only for patients with low baseline VA. Individual patient characteristics might need to be taken into account to customize treatment regimen and improve visual outcome.