Abstract
1/2012
vol. 114
Review paper
The impact of locally administrated VEGF inhibitors on vascular homeostasis – controversies concerning safety of intravitreal therapy in AMD patients
- Katedra i Zakład Histologii i Embriologii Pomorskiego Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Szczecinie
- Klinika Okulistyki Pomorskiego Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Szczecinie
Klinika Oczna 2012, 114 (1)
Online publish date: 2012/03/29
Intravitreal vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors constitutes currently the first-line treatment in neovascular age-
-related macular degeneration (AMD). By intravitreal application of the drug, the dosage can be kept low while maximizing
its effect on choroidal neovascularization and minimizing potential adverse systemic effects. However, the eye-blood barrier is
often disrupted in ophthalmic neovascular disorders and the drugs can be detected in circulating blood despite being administered as an intraocular injection. As patients with AMD constitute a high-risk population for cardiovascular events, the safety
of anti-VEGF therapies must be precisely and thoroughly assessed. In the present work, the recent reports documenting systemic safety of intravitreal VEGF inhibitors have been reviewed. Moreover, the novel methods to assess the potential systemic
effect on vascular homeostasis as the consequence of such therapy have been also discussed.
-related macular degeneration (AMD). By intravitreal application of the drug, the dosage can be kept low while maximizing
its effect on choroidal neovascularization and minimizing potential adverse systemic effects. However, the eye-blood barrier is
often disrupted in ophthalmic neovascular disorders and the drugs can be detected in circulating blood despite being administered as an intraocular injection. As patients with AMD constitute a high-risk population for cardiovascular events, the safety
of anti-VEGF therapies must be precisely and thoroughly assessed. In the present work, the recent reports documenting systemic safety of intravitreal VEGF inhibitors have been reviewed. Moreover, the novel methods to assess the potential systemic
effect on vascular homeostasis as the consequence of such therapy have been also discussed.
Keywords
age-related macular degeneration, vascular endothelial growth factor, ranibizumab, bevacizumab, acute thromboembolic events
Integrated with
