Multicentre Phase 3 clinical trial using AI in nAMD identifies, measures fluid volumes in real time

At this year’s EURETINA in Hamburg, Germany, there were several engaging presentations during the Symposium Session that took place on the Friday, 2nd September on the important topic of artificial intelligence (AI) tools for fluid monitoring in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

Another speaker in the AI Symposium, Dr Gregor S. Reiter, Laboratory for Ophthalmic Image Analysis, Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria, took to the podium to highlight recent data from a prospective multicentre Phase 3 clinical trial using AI in nAMD.

The trial enrolled 290 patients with active nAMD with foveal intra- and/or subretinal fluid who were randomised into receiving AI-support or conventional, qualitative fluid assessment. The patients were aged 50 years or older and all had a best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) better-than or equal-to 1.0 log MAR.

In the BCVA-examiner blinded study, patients were randomised to undergo either conventional qualitative fluid assessment or AI-guided fluid assessment and the resulting impact on injection frequency was analysed.

According to Dr Reiter, the results demonstrated that fluid volumes can be precisely identified, localised and measured in real-time using AI. He said that treatment for nAMD is based on fluid volumes but also emphasised the importance of fluid dynamics.

He concluded by describing how automated tools such as these will enable precision medicine based on fluid guidance to enter real-world management of exudative disease, thus improving clinical outcomes whilst also providing savings in terms of healthcare resources.