THE CORRELATION BETWEEN AQUEOUS VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR LEVEL AND CLINICAL ACTIVITY IN NEOVASCULAR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION

Purpose: The aim of the current study was to investigate the correlation between the pretreatment aqueous level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and clinical activity in neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Methods: Patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration treated by intravitreal ranibizumab injections and followed for 12 months were included in the current study. The treatment regimen consisted of three consecutive monthly intravitreal ranibizumab injections (loading treatment) followed by a pro re nata (PRN) treatment regimen. The aqueous VEGF levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using aqueous humor samples obtained just before the first intravitreal ranibizumab injections. Results: Sixty-four eyes of 64 patients were included in the current study. The mean number of intravitreal ranibizumab injections during 12 months was 4.6 ± 1.4, and 17 eyes had no recurrence after loading treatment. The mean aqueous VEGF level was significantly higher in eyes with recurrence after loading treatment than in eyes without recurrence (107.6 vs. 83.8 pg/mL, respectively; P = 0.04) and significantly higher in eyes with recurrence within 3 months after loading treatment than in other eyes (114.9 vs. 86.7 pg/mL, respectively; P < 0.01). Conclusion: Pretreatment aqueous VEGF level was significantly correlated with the likelihood of recurrence in neovascular age-related macular degeneration. The measurement of pretreatment aqueous VEGF level may be useful to determine the best treatment options for patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration.