Combination therapy for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration

Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 2013 May;24(3):233-8. doi: 10.1097/ICU.0b013e32835f8eaa.

Abstract

Purpose of review: To discuss the current combination treatments that involve existing as well as novel drugs that show promise for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Recent findings: Photodynamic therapy in combination with antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and steroids is currently used as a second-line therapy in patients not responding to monotherapy with anti-VEGF agents or in whom the treatment burden of monthly injections is too great. It is used as a primary therapy for idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. Radiation and antiplatelet-derived growth factor therapy show promising results and are currently under investigation.

Summary: Using combination treatments that target other pathways involved in angiogenesis will hopefully improve on the results of current anti-VEGF agents and may result in greater visual improvement and more convenient dosing regimens.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Photochemotherapy*
  • Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / therapeutic use
  • Radiotherapy
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Wet Macular Degeneration / drug therapy*
  • Wet Macular Degeneration / radiotherapy*

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Platelet-Derived Growth Factor
  • VEGFA protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A