Two-year outcomes of pro re nata ranibizumab monotherapy for exudative age-related macular degeneration in Japanese patients

PURPOSE: To describe outcomes of intravitreal ranibizumab using a pro re nata regimen for treatment-naive exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD), in Japanese patients over the first 2 years. METHODS: Clinical records were retrospectively reviewed of 48 eyes of 48 patients with treatment-naive exudative AMD who underwent intravitreal ranibizumab therapy. After three monthly injections (induction), patients were examined monthly, and subsequent injections were performed as needed (pro re nata) for any residual activity, by fundus biomicroscopy and imaging studies, regardless of severity. RESULTS: Twenty-nine (60%) of the patients were men, and 19 (40%) were women; the mean age was 76.1 years. Of the 48 eyes evaluated, 17 (35%) had findings consistent with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, and five (10%) with retinal angiomatous proliferation. A mean of 6.0 ranibizumab injections were given in the first year, 3.5 in the second year, and 9.5 over the 2-year period. The best-corrected visual acuity (logarithm of minimum angle of resolution) improved significantly, from 0.35 at baseline to 0.21 at 12 months (P < 0.01), and remained stable at 0.21 at 24 months (P < 0.01). The mean central macular thickness decreased significantly, from 355.4 μm at baseline to 237.9 μm at 12 months (P < 0.01) and 247.7 μm at 24 months (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Improved visual acuity and decreased central macular thickness were observed and maintained over a 2-year period, in a Japanese population receiving 3 monthly induction injections followed by a pro re nata regimen of ranibizumab for exudative AMD.