INCIDENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF INTRAOCULAR INFLAMMATION AFTER BROLUCIZUMAB TREATMENT IN JAPAN

Purpose: To investigate the incidence of intraocular inflammation (IOI) and its risk factors following intravitreal injections of brolucizumab for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) in Japan. Methods: A total of 1351 Japanese consecutive patients with nAMD who were treated with brolucizumab from May 2020 to May 2022 at 14 institutions were examined. The variables analyzed were the number of brolucizumab injections, time to onset of IOI, and risk factors. Results: IOI developed in 152 eyes (11.3%). Retinal vasculitis and/or retinal occlusion (RV and/or RO) occurred in 53 eyes (3.9%). Ninety-four patients received bilaterally, bilateral IOI occurred in 5 patients (5.3%). Sixteen eyes (1.2%) had irreversible visual acuity loss and nine eyes (0.67%) had visual loss of 3 lines or more due to RV and/or RO. The cumulative IOI incidence was 4.5%, 10.3%, and 12.2% at 30, 180, and 365 days (1-year), respectively. Prior history of IOI (including RV) and/or RO (odds ratio[OR], 5.41; P = 0.0075) and female sex (OR, 1.99; P = 0.0004) were significantly associated with IOI onset. Conclusion: The 1-year cumulative incidence of IOI in Japanese nAMD patients treated with brolucizumab was 12.2%. Prior history of IOI (including RV) and/or RO and female sex were significant risk factors.