Geographic atrophy and macular atrophy in AMD show comparable progression

Geographic atrophy in eyes with dry age-related macular degeneration (dAMD) and macular atrophy in fellow eyes with neovascular AMD (nAMD), treated with anti-VEGF injections, exhibit similar growth rates, according to a poster presented at ASRS 2024.

This finding suggests a high degree of concordance between the conditions, indicating a potential rationale for considering complement inhibition as a treatment strategy in eyes with nAMD and macular atrophy.

Out of 8403 screened patients, 208 eyes of 104 patients were included: 104 eyes with dAMD and 104 fellow eyes with nAMD. Atrophy sizes were measured at two time points approximately one year apart.

At the first time point, the mean atrophy size was 14.05 mm² for dAMD eyes and 14.14 mm² for nAMD eyes. At the second time point, the sizes were 16.92 mm² and 17.35 mm², respectively. The mean atrophy growth rate was 3.08 mm²/year in nAMD eyes and 2.77 mm²/year in dAMD eyes. Using the SQRT, the growth rates were 0.40 mm/year in nAMD and 0.38 mm/year in dAMD.

This suggests a rationale for considering complement inhibition in eyes with nAMD and macular atrophy, the study concluded.

Reference
Mansour H, et al. Atrophy Growth Rates in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Compared to Fellow Eyes With Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Poster presented at: ASRS 42nd Annual Meeting: July 17–20, 2024.