Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for choroidal neovascularization due to Sorsby macular dystrophy

J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 2013 May;29(4):444-7. doi: 10.1089/jop.2011.0206. Epub 2013 Apr 12.

Abstract

Purpose: To report the first case of intravitreal bevacizumab and ranibizumab to treat choroidal neovascularization secondary to Sorsby macular dystrophy.

Case: A 57-year-old male with metamorphopsia, color vision deficits, and ocular family history of Sorsby macular dystrophy was found to have a choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) in his left eye. He was initially treated with intravitreal bevacizumab and had visual acuity improvement and resolution of the subretinal fluid on OCT. After 8 injections, he developed presumed mild inflammation secondary to intravitreal bevacizumab and was switched to combination intravitreal bevacizumab/dexamethasone in his left eye, which consistently demonstrated efficacy in stabilizing his vision and the CNVM without producing intraocular inflammation. The right eye later developed the CNVM and he was started on intravitreal bevacizumab in this eye as well. After 8 injections in the right eye, he experienced a similar inflammatory reaction following intravitreal bevacizumab injections and was switched to combination intravitreal bevacizumab/dexamethasone in the right eye as well. Subsequently, he was switched to intravitreal ranibizumab in the left eye alone, which continued to stabilize his vision and OCT and did not cause an inflammatory reaction as he previously experienced with bevacizumab. After 5 ranibizumab injections, he experienced no inflammatory response that he appeared to have with bevacizumab, but chose to switch back to combination intravitreal bevacizumab and dexamethasone due to financial reasons. Initially, in his clinical course, he experienced consistent visual acuity improvements with intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy and continues to enjoy functional vision nearly 7 years after his initial symptoms.

Conclusions: Intravitreal bevacizumab and ranibizumab demonstrated efficacy in this case in the treatment of CNVM associated with Sorsby macular dystrophy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / adverse effects
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use*
  • Bevacizumab
  • Brachydactyly / drug therapy
  • Brachydactyly / pathology
  • Choroidal Neovascularization / drug therapy*
  • Choroidal Neovascularization / etiology
  • Coloboma / drug therapy
  • Coloboma / pathology
  • Dexamethasone / administration & dosage
  • Dexamethasone / therapeutic use
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / chemically induced
  • Inflammation / drug therapy
  • Intravitreal Injections
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Ranibizumab
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Visual Acuity / drug effects

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Bevacizumab
  • Dexamethasone
  • Ranibizumab

Supplementary concepts

  • Coloboma of macula type B brachydactyly