Short-term OCT-angiography changes of type 1 macular neovascularization in exudative AMD treated with intravitreal Aflibercept

Author: Asma Khallouli (Tunisia)

Co-authors: Racem Choura, Rahma Saidane, Dhouha Gouider, Zeineb Kallel, Afef Maalej, Riadh Rannen

Purpose

To assess short-term OCT-Angiography changes in type 1 macular neovascularisation (MNV) secondary to exudative Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) after intravitreal Aflibercept treatment.

Setting/Venue

Department of Ophthalmology of the Military Hospital of Tunis, Tunisia.

Methods

In a prospective monocentric study conducted in the Department of Ophthalmology of the Military Hospital of Tunis from October 2020 to February 2021, we included seven eyes of seven patients with type 1 MNV treated with intravitreal Aflibercept. All patients underwent OCT-Angiography (Optovue RTVue XR Avanti, AngioVue) before and 3 days after intravitreal treatment. OCT-A 6 mm × 6 mm metrics of the MNV area, the superficial (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) as well as the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area were analyzed in all eyes.

Results

We enrolled seven patients (3 males and 4 females). The mean age was 69.7 ± 8.3 years. MNV mean area decreased significantly 3 days after intravitreal Aflibercept (p<0.001). Cystoid macular edema initially present in two eyes decreased. Serous retinal detachment (6 eyes) decreased in 5 cases (83.3%). The qualitative evaluation showed that narrow MNV vessels density tended to decreased, even so larger MNV vessels remained steady. Flow signal from the choriocapillaris layer decreased in all cases. Vessel density in the SCP and the DCP remained unchanged as well as the FAZ area (all p>0.05).

Conlusions

OCT-Angiography is a non-invasive valuable tool, able to assess short-terms changes of type 1 MNV structure after intravitreal Aflibercept therapy.