Treating early choroidal neovascularisation with pegaptanib sodium in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration: Findings of the PERSPECTIVES study

摘要

Based on the success of intravitreal therapies targeting vascular endothelial growth factor, some of which suggested efficacy-independent of lesion subtype, we investigated the benefit and safety of pegaptanib sodium in patients with early neovascular age-related macular degeneration (NV-AMD) versus those with established lesions. PERSPECTIVES (NCT00327470) was a 102-week, open-label trial. Participants aged >=50 years with evidence of NV-AMD in at least one eye, clear ocular media and a visual acuity >25 Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters, and a lesion <12 disc areas were eligible (see supplemental data, figure 1). Using an algorithm reflecting function and morphology, we characterised lesions as early when (a) the baseline visual acuity was >=54 ETDRS letters and (b) on angiog-raphy with neovascularisation classified as occult with no classic or occult with classic consisting of <50% of lesion area, with no retinal haemorrhage, lipid exudation, or retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) detachment. Lesions were classified as established when classic neovascularisation comprised >=50% of lesion area or if retinal haemorrhage, lipid exudation, or RPE detachment were present even if classic constituted <50% of lesion area.