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Intravitreal Aflibercept for Submacular Hemorrhage

Efficacy of Intravitreal Aflibercept Monotherapy for Submacular Hemorrhage Secondary to Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Prospective Clinical Trial

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03169660
Enrollment
29
Registered
2017-05-30
Start date
2015-12-31
Completion date
2019-01-20
Last updated
2019-02-21

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Exudative Age-related Macular Degeneration

Brief summary

The prognosis of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) accompanied by submacular hemorrhage is generally poor. A recently developed anti-VEGF agent eyeliaTM is also a useful treatment option for exudative AMD. However, one major limitation of VIEW study was that lack of data regarding eyes with submacular hemorrhage. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of Eylea in submacular hemorrhage secondary to exudative AMD.

Detailed description

The prognosis of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) accompanied by submacular hemorrhage is generally poor. Although anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been demonstrated excellent efficacy in the treatment of exudative AMD, eyes with submacular hemorrhage were excluded from the previous well-known clinical trials. The exclusion of these patients may probably be determined by some concerns suggesting possible poor prognosis in these patients. Firstly, it was well known that subretinal hemorrhage itself induces retinal damage and degeneration. Secondly, it was not certain whether the drug penetrates through hemorrhage and stabilize to the underlying lesion or not. As a result, the efficacy in submacular hemorrhage could not be demonstrated in these clinical trials. The efficacy of anti-VEGF therapy in eyes with submacular hemorrhage has recently been spotlighted. Several reports demonstrated significant improvement in visual acuity after anti-VEGF monotherapy, including LucentisTM, AvastinTM, or both, in eyes with exudative AMD with submacular hemorrhage. Although histopathologic evidence using animal model has not been presented, results of these clinical studies suggest that anti-VEGF may penetrates the hemorrhage and stabilize the underlying lesion. Recently, a large prospective clinical trial that evaluated the efficacy of anti-VEGF therapy in this condition showed favorable outcome. Result of this study may be published in a near future A recently developed anti-VEGF agent eyeliaTM is also a useful treatment option for exudative AMD. The result of VIEW study clearly demonstrated that this new agent has comparable efficacy to LucentisTM using less frequent injection schedule. However, one major limitation of VIEW study was that lack of data regarding eyes with submacular hemorrhage. Investigators carefully reviewed the study protocol of VIEW study and found that lesions composed of \>50% blood were excluded. In addition, investigators could not aware any report in English literature that evaluated the efficacy of eyeliaTM in exudative AMD with submacular hemorrhage. It took almost 8 years to demonstrate the efficacy of two previously available anti-VEGF agents (LucentisTM and AvastinTM) in eyes with submacular hemorrhage. Investigators believe that a prospective study evaluating the efficacy of eyeliaTM in exudative AMD with submacular hemorrhage may help to achieve a consensus that eyeliaTM is also a useful treatment for submacular hemorrhage within a relatively short time. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of Eylea in submacular hemorrhage secondary to exudative AMD.

Interventions

DRUGVascular endothelial growth factor trap-eye

Intravitreal injection of vascular endothelial growth factor trap-eye During the first 3 months, 3 monthly injections are performed After 3 serial injections, additional injections are performed once per 2 months until 48 weeks after the initial injection.

Sponsors

Bayer
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
Kim's Eye Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
50 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. 50 years of older 2. Newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve exudative AMD 3. Fovea-involving submacular hemorrhage greater than 1 disc areas at diagnosis

Exclusion criteria

1. History of previous treatment for neovascular AMD 2. Greater than 15 disc diameter areas of hemorrhage extent 3. History of vitreoretinal surgery 4. History of glaucoma surgery, such as trabeculectomy or glaucoma implant surgery 5. History of ocular steroid injection therapy within 1 month 6. History of cataract surgery within 3 months 7. Aphakia or anterior chamber intraocular lens implantation 8. Spherical equivalents greater than -6.0 diopters 9. evidence of other retinal disorders that may affect visual function including diabetic retinopathy, hypertensive retinopathy, epiretinal membrane, macular hole, and microaneurysm 10. severe media opacity 11. uncontrolled systemic disorders, including hypertension or diabetes mellitus 12. history of major systemic vascular events, such as myocardial infarction and stroke 13. hypersensitivity to aflibercept 14. ocular or periocular infection 15. active intraocular inflammation

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Changes in Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study visual acuity ScoreChanges from baseline in visual acuity at 56 weeksIncrease or decrease in the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study letter score

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Proportion of patients who exhibited 15 letters or greater change in visual acuity56 weeksChanges in visual acuity of 15 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters or greater
Changes in central macular thicknessChanges from baseline in central macular thickness at 56 weeksChanges in central macular thickness (1 mm diameter centered at the centered at the fovea which is measured by optical coherence tomography)
Duration of complete hemorrahge resolution56 weeksDuration between the first injection and the complete hemorrhage resolution
Incidence of recurrence of submacular hemorrhage or fluid56 weeksNew development or increase in the amount of hemorrhage or fluid
Leakage on angiography56 weekLeakage on angiography

Countries

South Korea

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026