People with untreated obstructive sleep apnea and exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may have decreased response to bevacizumab therapy, according to Medscape.
In the current study, Dr Schaal and colleagues enrolled included patients with OSA who received treatment for nonretinal angiomatous proliferation, nonpolypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, or exudative AMD at the Retina Clinic of the University of Louisville. Researchers separated participants into two groups: untreated (n = 18) and regular CPAP users (n = 20).
Participants were bevacizumab-naive at baseline and received three intravitreal injections of bevacizumab (1.25 mg/0.05 mL) and a full clinical exam every 6 weeks. After the initial three injections, they were treated on a pro re nata regimen. They also received fluorescein angiography at baseline and ocular imaging, using optical coherence tomography at baseline and each follow-up visit. OSA was diagnosed using nocturnal diagnostic polysomnography in a hospital setting.
After an average follow-up of about 120 weeks, results showed significantly better visual acuity in the CPAP group compared with the untreated group (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution, 0.3 ± 0.24 [20/40] vs logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution, 0.7 ± 0.41; P < .05).
The CPAP group also showed improved central retinal thickness compared with untreated patients (358 ± 95 ?m to 254 ± 45 ?m and 350 ± 75 ?m to 322 ± 105 ?m, respectively; P < .05 [20/100]).
