Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41102864›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of retina and vitreous2025

Aflibercept, ranibizumab, and bevacizumab for macular neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration: a retrospective OCT-angiography study.

Marco Lombardo, Carlo Maccauro, Michele D'Ambrosio, Massimo Grossi, Filippo Missiroli, Massimo Cesareo, Federico Ricci

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Article in International journal of retina and vitreous, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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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

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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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.

Marco LombardoRetina Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford 81, 00133, Rome, Italy. lombardom301@gmail.com.
Carlo MaccauroRetina Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford 81, 00133, Rome, Italy.
Michele D'AmbrosioRetina Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford 81, 00133, Rome, Italy.
Massimo GrossiRetina Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford 81, 00133, Rome, Italy.
Filippo MissiroliRetina Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford 81, 00133, Rome, Italy.
Massimo CesareoRetina Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford 81, 00133, Rome, Italy.
Federico RicciRetina Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford 81, 00133, Rome, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIntravitreal aflibercept, ranibizumab, and bevacizumab represent the three most widely used anti-VEGF agents for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The objective of this study is to compare the loading phase effects of these three agents on the macular neovascularization (MNV) area and flow in treatment-naïve eyes affected by neovascular AMD, utilizing optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

methodsEighty-four neovascular AMD eyes from eighty-four patients were included in this retrospective study. Twenty-five patients were treated with aflibercept, thirty-four with ranibizumab, and twenty-five with bevacizumab within the initial loading phase preceding a treat-and-extend regimen. All patients underwent a three-monthly injection loading phase and were evaluated at baseline and one month after the loading phase. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), MNV area, and MNV flow area were assessed. MNV parameters were measured using the device-integrated “Flow Area” tool and ImageJ software.

resultsAverage baseline BCVA and CRT were 0.60 ± 0.22 logMAR and 343 ± 46 μm, respectively, and did not differ between groups. All three anti-VEGF agents improved anatomical and functional parameters, with no statistically significant differences between treatment groups (p > 0.05). Aflibercept showed the most significant CRT reduction (88 μm; p < 0.01), while bevacizumab led to the highest BCVA gain (0.15 logMAR; p < 0.01). MNV area significantly decreased only in the bevacizumab group (0.26 mm2; p < 0.01), and flow area only in the ranibizumab group (0.23 mm2; p < 0.05). A strong positive correlation between MNV areas and flow areas was found at baseline (r > 0.8) and follow-up (r > 0.9).

conclusionsAflibercept, ranibizumab, and bevacizumab demonstrated similar efficacy in reducing MNV area and flow and improving visual and anatomical outcomes after a three-injection loading phase. OCTA-derived flow area measurement may be a valuable and easily accessible tool in monitoring early treatment response.

Indexed as

AfliberceptAge-related macular degenerationAMDAnti-VEGFBevacizumabMacular neovascularizationMNVOCTAOCT-angiographyRanibizumab

Identifiers

PMID41102864
PMCPMC12532941

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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.