Prognostic factors of 2-year outcomes of ranibizumab therapy for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy

Purpose To determine predictors of 2-year outcomes after three, monthly, intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) injections followed by as-needed injections for treatment-naive polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). Methods This trial included 85 Japanese patients with symptomatic treatment-naive PCV who received one 0.5 mg IVR injection monthly for 3 months followed by as-needed retreatments. PCV with subfoveal leakage on fluorescein angiography with or without actual choroidal neovascularisation were included. Analyses evaluated independent baseline predictors of better and improved visual acuity (VA) and need for fewer reinjections 2 years after the first injection. Results After the three monthly injections, 1.3±1.4 and 1.5±2.0 (mean±SD) as-needed injections were administered during years 1 and 2, respectively. The baseline logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution, VA (0.60±0.49) improved significantly (p=0.001) (0.41±0.47) 2 years after the first injection. Younger patients’ eyes with a better baseline VA and no cluster of grape-like polypoidal lesions were significant independent predictors of better VA 2 years after treatment. No baseline factors predicted fewer ranibizumab reinjections during 2 years. At 2 years, resolution of polypoidal lesions 1 month after the three monthly injections did not affect VA and number of reinjections during 2 years. Conclusions Patient age, baseline VA and clusters of grape-like polypoidal lesions predicted VA outcomes 2 years after treatment with IVR for PCV.