Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39961284›Full record

SynthesisOphthalmologica. Journal international d'ophtalmologie. International journal of ophthalmology. Zeitschrift fur Augenheilkunde2025

Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Treatment Outcomes in Macular Telangiectasia: A Systematic Review.

Aswen Sriranganathan, Justin Grad, Andrew Mihalache, Marko M Popovic, Peter J Kertes, Radha Kohly, Rajeev H Muni

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Ophthalmologica. Journal international d'ophtalmologie. International journal of ophthalmology. Zeitschrift fur Augenheilkunde, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Aswen SriranganathanFaculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, asrir013@uottawa.ca.
Justin GradMichael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Andrew MihalacheTemerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Marko M PopovicDepartment of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Peter J KertesDepartment of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Radha KohlyDepartment of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Rajeev H MuniDepartment of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionMacular telangiectasia (MacTel) is a rare retinal condition that can cause vision loss, and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents have emerged as a potential treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of anti-VEGF therapy in patients with MacTel.

methodsA systematic literature search on Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library was performed from inception to June 2024 for comparative studies on anti-VEGF agents in MacTel. The primary outcome was the change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Secondary outcomes were central macular thickness (CMT), central choroidal thickness (CCT), and fluorescein angiography (FA) leakage.

resultsTen studies on 377 eyes of 239 patients followed up over 23.4 ± 8.3 months were included. Mean (SD) BCVA changed from 0.42 (0.39) to 0.35 (0.18) over 23.4 (8.3) months of follow-up in non-proliferative MacTel. Mean BCVA changed from 0.66 (0.43) to 0.52 (0.34) at final follow-up in eyes with choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Five studies reported improved visual acuity, one showed improved FA leakage without visual acuity benefit, and four found no functional benefit. In non-proliferative MacTel, four studies showed no functional improvement, two reported significant functional and morphological improvements, and one suggested potential benefits in improving BCVA. In proliferative MacTel, two studies demonstrated improvement in both anatomical and functional outcomes, while one indicated that anti-VEGF treatment might produce improved results. In non-proliferative MacTel, mean CMT changed from 201 (32) µm to 199 (29) µm. CMT in patients with CNV decreased from an initial value of 328.23 (161.16) µm to 267.44 (118.56) µm at the final follow-up. CCT in proliferative MacTel eyes decreased from 272.37 (52.65) µm and 247.40 (48.80) µm on anti-VEGF therapy. Overall, FA leakage outcomes were improved on ranibizumab therapy. No study documented any significant adverse effects with treatment.

conclusionAnti-VEGF agents may be associated with favorable anatomical and functional outcomes, particularly in proliferative MacTel; however, future large-scale clinical trials are warranted.

Indexed as

BevacizumabMacula LuteaRanibizumabRetinal TelangiectasisVascular Endothelial Growth Factor AVisual AcuityAngiogenesis InhibitorsFluorescein AngiographyFundus OculiHumansIntravitreal InjectionsReceptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth FactorTomography, Optical CoherenceTreatment OutcomeAngiogenesis InhibitorsBevacizumabRanibizumabReceptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth FactorVascular Endothelial Growth Factor AAnti-vascular endothelial growth factorMacular telangiectasiaMacular telangiectasia type 2

Identifiers

PMID39961284
PMCPMC11999654

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.