Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40481786›Full record

ArticleActa ophthalmologica2026

Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections and risks of stroke in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration-A registry-based cohort study.

A H Falemban, K Söderberg-Löfdal, F Jonsson, S Almlöf-Sarman, M von Euler, I Westborg

Abstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in Acta ophthalmologica, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

6 authors.

A H FalembanDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al Qura University, Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
K Söderberg-LöfdalDivision of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
F JonssonRiksstroke, The Swedish Stroke Registry, Region Västerbotten, Sweden.
S Almlöf-SarmanSt Erik Eye Hospital, Vitro Retinal Clinic, Stockholm, Sweden.
M von EulerRiksstroke, The Swedish Stroke Registry, Region Västerbotten, Sweden.
I WestborgDepartment of Clinical Sciences/Ophthalmology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2147-602X

Funding

Region Stockholm
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIntravitreal Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) rescues retinal vasculatures and prevents disease progression in patients with neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration (nAMD). However, systemic anti-VEGF may increase the risk of thromboembolic related complications including stroke and TIA. This study aims to explore the association between stroke and intravitreal anti-VEGF agents; ranibizumab, aflibercept and bevacizumab.

methodsThis nationwide, population- registry-based case-control study used registered data 2007-2019. Data from the Swedish Stroke Registry (Riksstroke) and the Swedish Macula Register (SMR) were cross-linked to identify nAMD patients who developed stroke/TIA within 90 days after intravitreal anti-VEGF injection. Each stroke case was matched with three controls from Riksstroke with stroke/TIA but no anti-VEGF treatment.

resultsA total of 33 585 patients with nAMD underwent intravitreal anti-VEGF agent injections. A stroke occurred in 1693 patients of this group, and 936 of them within 90 days of treatment. Compared with nonuse, intravitreal anti-VEGF agent use was associated with an increased risk of stroke within 90 days of anti-VEGF treatment in 2.9% of the nAMD-patients [Risk Ratio (RR) 1.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.22; 1.33] compared to non-users. The RR within 30, 31-60 and 61-90 days were 1.36 (1.15; 1.66), 1.40 (1.09; 1.79) and 0.58 (0.52; 0.65), respectively.

conclusionsEven though the risk is small, intravitreal injections with anti-VEGF agents for the treatment of nAMD are associated with an increased risk of stroke/TIA. The risk seems to be higher within 60 days of last injection. An assessment of high-risk populations and risk-benefit weighting is necessary before intravitreal anti-VEGF injections are considered.

Indexed as

BevacizumabRanibizumabRegistriesStrokeWet Macular DegenerationAgedAged, 80 and overAngiogenesis InhibitorsCase-Control StudiesFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansIncidenceIntravitreal InjectionsMaleReceptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth FactorafliberceptAngiogenesis InhibitorsBevacizumabRanibizumabReceptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth FactorRecombinant Fusion ProteinsVascular Endothelial Growth Factor AAMDanti‐VEGFintravitreal injectionsold agestroke

Identifiers

PMID40481786
PMCPMC12803559

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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.