Biomaterial Database

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for ocular neovascular disease. 2007

Christopher M Andreoli, and Joan W Miller

Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.

OBJECTIVE Recent research has shown that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is responsible for many ocular pathologies involving neovascularization. Over the past several years several new agents targeting VEGF have become commercially available for intraocular use. These agents have revolutionized the care of neovascular age related macular degeneration and have great potential for other blinding conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, and neovascular glaucoma. RESULTS The VEGF Inhibition Study in Ocular Neovascularization (VISION) trial first showed that an anti-VEGF agent (pegaptanib) was able to prevent vision loss in neovascular age related macular degeneration. The Minimally Classic/Occult Trial of Anti-VEGF Antibody Ranibizumab in the Treatment of Neovascular AMD (MARINA) and Anti-VEGF Antibody for the Treatment of Predominantly Classic Choroidal Neovascularization in AMD (ANCHOR) trials showed that ranibizumab prevented moderate vision loss in neovascular age related macular degeneration and for the first time that a substantial proportion of patients regained vision. Smaller case series have shown that bevacizumab can regress retinal, iris and disc neovascularization. Ongoing trials are investigating the utility of anti-VEGF therapy in retinopathy of prematurity, diabetic retinopathy, and neovascular glaucoma. CONCLUSIONS Newer anti-VEGF therapies have shown unprecedented efficacy in treating age related macular degeneration with many patients experiencing improvement in vision. Ongoing trials will help guide their use in age related macular degeneration and expand their indications to many other blinding diseases.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007231	Infant, Newborn	An infant during the first 28 days after birth.	Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D008268	Macular Degeneration	Degenerative changes in the RETINA usually of older adults which results in a loss of vision in the center of the visual field (the MACULA LUTEA) because of damage to the retina. It occurs in dry and wet forms.	Maculopathy,Maculopathy, Age-Related,Age-Related Macular Degeneration,Age-Related Maculopathies,Age-Related Maculopathy,Macular Degeneration, Age-Related,Macular Dystrophy,Maculopathies, Age-Related,Age Related Macular Degeneration,Age Related Maculopathies,Age Related Maculopathy,Age-Related Macular Degenerations,Degeneration, Macular,Dystrophy, Macular,Macular Degeneration, Age Related,Macular Degenerations,Macular Dystrophies,Maculopathies,Maculopathy, Age Related
D009389	Neovascularization, Pathologic	A pathologic process consisting of the proliferation of blood vessels in abnormal tissues or in abnormal positions.	Angiogenesis, Pathologic,Angiogenesis, Pathological,Neovascularization, Pathological,Pathologic Angiogenesis,Pathologic Neovascularization,Pathological Angiogenesis,Pathological Neovascularization
D001766	Blindness	The inability to see or the loss or absence of perception of visual stimuli. This condition may be the result of EYE DISEASES; OPTIC NERVE DISEASES; OPTIC CHIASM diseases; or BRAIN DISEASES affecting the VISUAL PATHWAYS or OCCIPITAL LOBE.	Amaurosis,Bilateral Blindness,Blindness, Bilateral,Blindness, Legal,Blindness, Monocular,Blindness, Unilateral,Sudden Visual Loss,Unilateral Blindness,Blindness, Acquired,Blindness, Complete,Blindness, Hysterical,Blindness, Transient,Acquired Blindness,Amauroses,Bilateral Blindnesses,Complete Blindness,Hysterical Blindness,Legal Blindness,Monocular Blindness,Sudden Visual Losses,Transient Blindness,Visual Loss, Sudden
D003930	Diabetic Retinopathy	Disease of the RETINA as a complication of DIABETES MELLITUS. It is characterized by the progressive microvascular complications, such as ANEURYSM, interretinal EDEMA, and intraocular PATHOLOGIC NEOVASCULARIZATION.	Diabetic Retinopathies,Retinopathies, Diabetic,Retinopathy, Diabetic
D005123	Eye	The organ of sight constituting a pair of globular organs made up of a three-layered roughly spherical structure specialized for receiving and responding to light.	Eyes
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012178	Retinopathy of Prematurity	A bilateral retinopathy occurring in premature infants treated with excessively high concentrations of oxygen, characterized by vascular dilatation, proliferation, and tortuosity, edema, and retinal detachment, with ultimate conversion of the retina into a fibrous mass that can be seen as a dense retrolental membrane. Usually growth of the eye is arrested and may result in microophthalmia, and blindness may occur. (Dorland, 27th ed)	Retrolental Fibroplasia,Fibroplasia, Retrolental,Fibroplasias, Retrolental,Prematurity Retinopathies,Prematurity Retinopathy,Retrolental Fibroplasias
D015355	Glaucoma, Neovascular	A form of secondary glaucoma which develops as a consequence of another ocular disease and is attributed to the forming of new vessels in the angle of the anterior chamber.	Glaucomas, Neovascular,Neovascular Glaucoma,Neovascular Glaucomas
D015861	Retinal Neovascularization	Formation of new blood vessels originating from the retinal veins and extending along the inner (vitreal) surface of the retina.	Neovascularization, Optic Disc,Neovascularization, Retinal,Optic Disc Neovascularization,Optic Disk Neovascularization,Sea Fan Neovascularization,Disk Neovascularization, Optic,Neovascularization, Optic Disk,Neovascularization, Sea Fan,Optic Disc Neovascularizations,Optic Disk Neovascularizations,Sea Fan Neovascularizations