Patients with BRVO/CRVO treated with anti-VEGF therapy monitored less often in real world setting
Less frequent monitoring, fewer anti-VEGF injections, and smaller vision gains were noted in patients with branch (BRVO) and central (CRVO) retinal vein occlusion receiving anti-VEGF treatment in real-world studies compared to clinical trials, according to data presented at the 2021 ASRS Annual Meeting.
In addition, long-term extension (LTE) trials showed that on average, patients with BRVO maintained the initial vision gains achieved in clinical trials whereas patients with CRVO did not.
In this study, researchers compared 7 controlled clinical trials with monthly monitoring, 3 long-term extension (LTE) trials with monitoring less-than monthly, and 2 real-world studies with monitoring at the investigator’s discretion, analyzing anti-VEGF therapy in patients with BRVO or CRVO. Average 12-month injection frequencies were compared.
BRVO Outcomes
During the first 12 months, patients with BRVO in pivotal phase 3 clinical trials received mean 8.5–9.0 injections compared with 3.7–4.9 injections in patients in real-world studies. At 1 year, the mean BCVA gains in clinical trials and real-world studies were 17.1–18.3 letters and versus 7.7–13.1 letters, respectively. In subsequent LTE trials, patients received 2.1 injections and vision gains achieved during the first year of clinical trials were maintained.
CRVO Outcomes
During the first 12 months, patients with CRVO in pivotal phase 3 clinical trials received mean 7.8–11.8 injections compared with 3.5–5.1 injections in real-world studies. At 1 year, the mean BCVA gains in clinical trials and real-world studies were 10.7–21.9 letters and 4.1–7.1, respectively. In subsequent LTE trials, patients received 3.3–4.5 injections and vision gains achieved during the first year of clinical trials were not maintained.
Reference
Danzig CJ, et al. Clinical Trial Versus Real-World Outcomes With Anti-VEGF Therapy for Branch and Central Retinal Vein Occlusion. Presented at: 2021 ASRS Annual Meeting.
