Treatment of age‐related macular degeneration with aflibercept using a treat, extend and fixed protocol; A 4‐year study of treatment outcomes, durability, safety and quality of life (An extension to the MATE randomised controlled trial)
ORCID
- Victoria Allgar: 0000-0002-5228-2623
Abstract
Purpose: Data are limited pertaining to the long-term benefits of aflibercept treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). The aim of this study was to provide outcomes, safety, durability and quality-of-life data with aflibercept using a modified treat, extend and fixed regime over 4 years. Methods: Prospective, multicentre, single cohort observational study of treatment-naïve nAMD participants treated with aflibercept as 2-year extension of the MATE-trial that compared early and late Treat-and-Extend for 2 years. Refracted ETDRS best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), treatment interval and adverse events were assessed. Quality-of-life was measured using the Macular Disease Dependent Quality of Life (MacDQoL) and Macular Disease Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaires (MacTSQ). Results: Twenty-six of 40 participants completing the MATE-trial were enrolled with 20 completing the total 4-year study. Mean BCVA was 60.7 at Month 0 and 64.8 ETDRS letters at Month 48 while CRT decreased from 423.7 μm to 292.2 μm. Five participants discontinued treatment due to inactivity. The mean number of treatments and visits for the remaining participants was 27 and 30.0, respectively, with treatment intervals extended to 12 weeks in four participants at Month 48. Both AMD-specific QoL and treatment satisfaction remained stable between Months 0 and 48 and mean BCVA significantly correlated with AMD-specific QoL scores at Months 12, 24 and 48. Conclusions: Results suggest that BCVA can be maintained over 48 months when following a treat-extend-and-fix regimen of aflibercept with intervals out to 12 weeks, while maintaining AMD-specific QoL and treatment satisfaction.
Publication Date
2024-01-01
Publication Title
Acta Ophthalmologica
Volume
102
Issue
3
ISSN
1755-375X
Embargo Period
9999-12-31
Keywords
aflibercept, durability, neovascular age-related macular degeneration, quality of life, safety
First Page
328
Last Page
338
Recommended Citation
Airody, A.,
Baseler, H.,
Seymour, J.,
Allgar, V.,
Mukherjee, R.,
Downey, L.,
Dhar‐Munshi, S.,
Mahmood, S.,
Balaskas, K.,
Empeslidis, T.,
Hanson, R.,
Dorey, T.,
Szczerbicki, T.,
Sivaprasad, S.,
&
Gale, R.
(2024)
'Treatment of age‐related macular degeneration with aflibercept using a treat, extend and fixed protocol; A 4‐year study of treatment outcomes, durability, safety and quality of life (An extension to the