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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Med.
Sec. Ophthalmology
Volume 11 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1467160
This article is part of the Research Topic Updates in Ocular Therapeutics and Surgery - Volume IV View all articles

Treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration: one year real-life results with intravitreal Brolucizumab

Provisionally accepted
Settimio Rossi Settimio Rossi 1Carlo Gesualdo Carlo Gesualdo 1*Ernesto Marano Ernesto Marano 1Raffaele Perrotta Raffaele Perrotta 2Maria Consiglia Trotta Maria Consiglia Trotta 3Antonio Del Giudice Antonio Del Giudice 1Francesca Simonelli Francesca Simonelli 1
  • 1 Dipartimento Multidisciplinare di Specialità Medico-Chirurgiche e Odontoiatriche, Università della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
  • 2 Eye Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera San Pio di Benevento, Benevento, Campania, Italy
  • 3 Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Campania, Italy

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a prevalent cause of irreversible vision loss worldwide, particularly among the elderly population. Two forms of late AMD are described: neovascular AMD (nAMD), characterized by abnormal choroidal blood vessel growth, and atrophic (dry) AMD, involving retinal cell degeneration. Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents have transformed nAMD treatment, with Brolucizumab emerging as a promising therapy. The aim of this study is to provide the real-life anatomical-functional and safety results, after 1 year of treatment experience with Brolucizumab.Methods: This is a retrospective observational real-life study in which 44 patients (44 eyes) diagnosed with nAMD and treated with Brolucizumab were enrolled. We identified two groups: group 1 (24 treatment-naïve eyes) that received a loading dose of 3 monthly intravitreal injections of Broluciziumab 6 mg (0.05 ml solution) + Q8w/Q12w regimen, and a Group 2 (20 non-naïve eyes) which performed 1 injection + ProReNata (PRN) scheme. Monthly, all participants underwent comprehensive ophthalmological evaluation until 12 months follow-up.Results: We observed a significant improvement in best corrected visual acuity (39±15 L vs 30±17 L; p<0.01) and central retinal thickness (265 ± 89 µ vs 360 ± 129 µ; p<0.001) at the end of follow-up without any differences between treatment-naïve and non-naïve patients. These results were obtained with a low number of injections (3.7 ± 1.9) with only one case of intraocular drug-related adverse event. Finally, the presence of subretinal hyperreflective material correlates with lower visual recovery.Discussion: Our findings highlight the efficacy of Brolucizumab in managing wet-AMD and suggest its role for long-term efficacy in stabilizing retinal exudation and fluid accumulation, resulting in improved visual prognosis.

    Keywords: age-related macular degeneration, Intravitreal injection, brolucizumab, real-life, neovascularization 1

    Received: 19 Jul 2024; Accepted: 04 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Rossi, Gesualdo, Marano, Perrotta, Trotta, Del Giudice and Simonelli. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Carlo Gesualdo, Dipartimento Multidisciplinare di Specialità Medico-Chirurgiche e Odontoiatriche, Università della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy

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