Factors Predictive of Outcomes 1 Year After 3 Monthly Ranibizumab Injections and as-Needed Reinjections for Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy in Japanese Patients

In Brief Purpose: To determine baseline factors predictive of outcomes 1 year after 3 monthly intravitreal ranibizumab injections followed by as-needed injections for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. Methods: A nonrandomized prospective 1-year trial collected data from 144 Japanese patients (144 eyes) with symptomatic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy who received one 0.5-mg intravitreal ranibizumab injection monthly for 3 months followed by as-needed retreatments. Statistical analysis evaluated baseline independent factors predictive of better visual acuity and the need for fewer injections 1 year after the first injection. Results: After the initial 3 monthly injections, a mean ± standard deviation of 1.2 ± 1.1 as-needed injections was administered. The mean visual acuity improved significantly (P < 0.01) from 20/80 to 20/50. Better visual acuity and no history of photodynamic therapy or clusters of grape-like polypoidal lesions were significant independent baseline factors predictive of better visual acuity 1 year after the first injection. No factors were significantly associated with a need for fewer ranibizumab reinjections during follow-up. Conclusion: The baseline clinical characteristics predicted favorable visual acuity outcomes. These findings might be useful to explaining the prognosis of ranibizumab treatment to the patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. Summary: Baseline characteristics, such as the visual acuity, history of photodynamic therapy, and presence of a cluster of grape-like polypoidal lesions, are predictive of visual acuity 1 year after 3 monthly ranibizumab injections and as-needed reinjections for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.