J Retin.  2024 Nov;9(2):156-161. 10.21561/jor.2024.9.2.156.

Clinical Outcomes of Switching to Brolucizumab in Refractory Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy Treated with Aflibercept

• Baek SC
• Jeong A
• Sagong M

• KMID: 2561878
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.21561/jor.2024.9.2.156

Abstract

Purpose
In the present study, the efficacy and safety of brolucizumab in refractory polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) patients treated with aflibercept were investigated.
Methods
The medical records of patients with refractory PCV treated with aflibercept were reviewed. All patients had subretinal fluid or intraretinal fluid followed by at least three consecutive injections of aflibercept on a 4–8-week dosing schedule before switching to brolucizumab. Changes in injection intervals, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and OCT angiography parameters including central macular thickness (CMT), subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), polyp height, lesion area, flow density, and polyp regression rate were evaluated before and 6 months after switching to brolucizumab.
Results
The study included 32 eyes of 32 patients with PCV who received brolucizumab injections as switch therapy and were followed at 6 months. After switching to brolucizumab, 53% of eyes had dry macula and the injection interval was extended from 5.4 ± 1.7 weeks to 10.8 ± 2.9 weeks. Best-corrected visual acuity remained stable over the 6 months (p = 0.166). CMT and SFCT were reduced at 6 months after switching to brolucizumab (p = 0.042 and p = 0.023, respectively). Polyp regression was complete in 12.5% and partial in 62.5% of eyes. The largest polyp height and lesion size significantly decreased (p = 0.035 and p = 0.010, respectively). However, significant difference was not found regarding flow density after switching to brolucizumab (p = 0.145). Intraocular inflammation-related adverse events were not reported.
Conclusions
Brolucizumab could provide additional benefits in refractory PCV treated with aflibercept by reducing leakage from polyps, branching vascular networks, and choroid.

Keyword

Aflibercept; Brolucizumab; Choroidal thickness; Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy