RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW OF LUCENTIS "TREAT AND EXTEND" PATTERNS AND OUTCOMES IN AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION.

Abstract

To assess patterns and outcomes of a "Treat and Extend" dosing regimen of ranibizumab in patients with age-related macular degeneration. Three hundred and thirty two treatment-naive age-related macular degeneration patients starting therapy with ranibizumab between January 1, 2011, and June 30, 2012, at the Ivey Eye Institute were reviewed, and 79 met inclusion criteria. Patients on Treat and Extend dosing regimen underwent an induction phase with monthly injections and then moved onto an extension phase. Change in visual acuity and central retinal thickness during the induction and extension phases were recorded. During the induction phase, patients had a significant gain in vision and decrease in central retinal thickness (+8.4 letters, P < 0.001 and -81.3 μm, P < 0.001). During the extension phase, patients did not have significant change in vision (-0.5 letters, P = 0.81) and did not have significant change in central retinal thickness (-11.5 μm, P = 0.17). The average extension interval between treatments was 47.7 days, with patients receiving an average of 8.6 injections per year. Cost analysis showed it cost US $16,659 to treat 1 patient in the first year on Treat and Extend dosing regimen compared with US $20,614 on monthly dosing. Treat and Extend dosing regimen allows similar visual outcomes to monthly dosing, while reducing the total number of injections, visits, and overall cost.