Aflibercept injections improves VA in CRVO patients

Monthly intravitreal aflibercept significantly improves visual acuity (VA) in patients with macular oedema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), according to the latest phase of the COPERNICUS study.

Dr D.M. Brown et al., Retina Consultants of Houston, The Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, conducted a multicentre, randomized, controlled trial featuring 189 patients with macular oedema secondary to CRVO. Patients were randomized to receive six monthly injections of either 2 mg intravitreal aflibercept or a sham injection.

Primary endpoint was the amount of patients who gained 15 ETDRS letters or more from baselines at the 24-week point. The additional endpoints were visual, anatomic and quality-of-life NEI VFQ-25 outcomes at weeks 24 and 52.

Of the aflibercept patients studied, 56% gained 15 letters or more, compared to 12.3% of sham patients. At week 52 this increased to 55.3% of aflibercept patients gaining 15 or more letters, compared to 30.1% of sham patients. The most common adverse effects for both groups were conjunctival haemorrhage, eye pain, reduced visual acuity and IOP.

The abstract can be found in the American Journal of Ophthalmology.