Long-Term Follow-Up of Brolucizumab in Macular Neovascularization

Abstract

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> The aim of the study was to evaluate functional and anatomical changes in type 1 and type 2 naïve macular neovascularization (MNV) patients treated with brolucizumab injections up to 1 year of treatment (week 48). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Thirty-eight eyes of 38 patients with active MNV were enrolled at the Ophthalmology Clinic of the University “G. d’Annunzio,” Chieti-Pescara, Italy. All patients were scheduled for brolucizumab intravitreal injections as per label, according to the standard HAWK and HARRIER trials guidelines. Enrolled patients underwent complete ophthalmic evaluation, including optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography. All measurements were evaluated at baseline and then monthly up to week 48. The main outcome measures were changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA); central macular thickness (CMT); subfoveal choroidal thickness (SCT); pigment epithelial detachment presence and maximum height (PEDMH); intraretinal fluid (IRF) presence, subfoveal subretinal fluid (SSRF) presence and maximum height, macular atrophy area, and neovascular membrane flow area in the slab extending from the outer retina to choriocapillaris (ORCC flow). <b><i>Results:</i></b> CMT and BCVA significantly changed in both groups over time. ORCC flow and SCT significantly reduced in both groups over time. Atrophy areas increased from 0 to 0.17 mm<sup>2</sup> and from 0 to 0.23 mm<sup>2</sup> in type 1 MNV and type 2 MNV patients, respectively. PEDMH reduced in type 1 MNV from 138 μm at T0 to 96 μm at T5. Changes in fluids were noted, with SSRF thickness reduction and IRF changes in both groups. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Our one-year results of treatment confirm brolucizumab to be efficient and safe in both type 1 and type 2 MNV patients, proposing novel OCT parameters as possible biomarkers of treatment.