Intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor for patients with various retinal diseases.
10.5124/jkma.2016.59.1.52
- Author:
Seungbum KANG
1
Author Information
1. Department of Ophthalmology, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. john0730@catholic.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Intravitreal injections;
Vascular endothelial growth factor;
Ranibizumab;
Bevacizumab;
Aflibercept
- MeSH:
Bevacizumab;
Capillary Permeability;
Endophthalmitis;
Endothelial Growth Factors*;
Humans;
Immunoglobulin G;
Intravitreal Injections*;
Macular Degeneration;
Macular Edema;
Ranibizumab;
Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor;
Retinal Diseases*;
Retinaldehyde*;
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
- From:Journal of the Korean Medical Association
2016;59(1):52-57
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) is a major regulator of angiogenesis and vascular permeability. VEGF-A plays an important role in a wide variety of retinal diseases. Therefore, intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF agents is increasingly used for the treatment of various vasoproliferative or exudative retinal diseases. There are several anti-VEGF drugs available that are currently used, but three are most commonly used in practice. They are ranibizumab, bevacizumab, and aflibercept. Ranibizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody fragment targeting VEGF-A, but bevacizumab, commonly used off-label, is a humanized full-length anti-VEGF antibody. Aflibercept is a recombinant fusion protein consisting of portions of human VEGF receptors 1 and 2 extracellular domains fused to the Fc portion of human IgG1. These anti-VEGF therapies have resulted in unprecedented visual and anatomic outcomes, especially in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME). Visual stabilization or clinically significant visual improvement can be expected if intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF agents are properly provided for patients with neovascular AMD or DME in the course of the disease. Treating retinal diseases with intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF agents may have potential side effects. Systemic adverse effects attributable to VEGF inhibition may cause thromboembolic events. Acute endophthalmitis is the most feared injection-related ocular side effect. The development of anti-VEGF agents for various retinal diseases provides a safe and effective treatment. There is no doubt that further advances in anti-VEGF therapy can be expected soon.
