Angioid streak-related choroidal neovascularization treated by intravitreal ranibizumab.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to report the visual outcome of intravitreal therapy with ranibizumab of choroidal neovascularization secondary to angioid streaks after 1-year follow-up.

METHODS: Nine patients (age, 58 +/- 4 years; range, 53-65 years) were treated with off-label intravitreal injections of 0.3 mg ranibizumab. Primary outcomes were best-corrected visual acuity changes (Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution and letters) and optical coherence tomography macular thickness changes.

RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 14 months (+/-2; range, 12-18 months). Mean visual acuity was 0.52 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution and 30 letters (range, 0.2-1.2; 0-47 letters) at baseline and 0.37 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (P = 0.014) and 37 letters (range, 0-1.2; 2-55 letters) (P = 0.01) at the last examination. Seven of 9 patients (78%) gained vision (mean, 2 lines), 1 patient (11 %) was stable, and 1 patient (11 %) lost 1 line of vision (5 letters). Two patients (22%) gained >or=3 lines of visual acuity, no patient lost >1 line. Mean optical coherence tomography macular thickness was 262.4 microm (+/-34.4 standard deviation) at baseline and 216.4 microm (+/-19 standard deviation) at the last examination (P = 0.05). The mean number of injection was 5 (range, 3-7); 78% of patients needed to be retreated after the loading dose of 3 monthly injections.

CONCLUSION: Ranibizumab can be considered as an effective therapy in angioid streak-related neovascularization, even if in an off-label setting.