In a nutshell
This study looked at a treat-and-extend regimen of eye injections with aflibercept (Eylea) for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME). It found this regimen improved patients' vision.
Some background
DME is a condition where fluid builds up at the back of the eye causing blurred vision. It is usually treated with a course of injections into the eye with a medication such as aflibercept. However, it is not clear how many injections should be given or how far apart they should be. A treat-and-extend (TE) regimen involves giving an initial course of frequent injections and then extending the interval between injections depending on improvements. Whether a TE regimen is a good strategy for patients with DME is still unknown.
Methods & findings
40 eyes with DME were involved in this study. They were treated with an initial course of aflibercept injections, one every four weeks. If there was an improvement in their eye scans after this then the gap between injections was extended to 8 weeks, and then to 12 weeks, and then to 16 weeks if they continued to improve.
After 2 years vision was re-checked. Patients were able to read an average of 66.6 letters on the vision chart, compared to 60.5 letters before treatment.
The bottom line
This study showed that a 2-year treat-and-extend regimen of aflibercept injections leads to a 6 letter gain in vision on average.
The fine print
This study did not use any other treatment regimens for comparison.
Published By :
Scientific reports
Date :
Feb 24, 2021
