Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40971067›Full record

ArticleOphthalmology and therapy2025

Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treated with Aflibercept: Five-Year Follow-Up and Correlation with Optical Coherence Tomography Biomarkers in a Real-World Setting.

Massimiliano Borselli, Mutasem Elfalah, Teresa Angela Trunfio, Arianna Scala, Domenico Chisari, Alessandra Mancini, Andrea Lucisano, Giovanna Carnovale-Scalzo, Vincenzo Mollace, Giovanni Improta and 4 more

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Ophthalmology and therapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Massimiliano BorselliOphthalmology Unit, Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, University "Magna Grecia" of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy.
Mutasem ElfalahOphthalmology Division, Special Surgery Department, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
Teresa Angela TrunfioDepartment of Public Health, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
Arianna ScalaDepartment of Public Health, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
Domenico ChisariOphthalmology Unit, Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, University "Magna Grecia" of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy.
Alessandra ManciniOphthalmology Unit, Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, University "Magna Grecia" of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy.
Andrea LucisanoOphthalmology Unit, Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, University "Magna Grecia" of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy.
Giovanna Carnovale-ScalzoOphthalmology Unit, Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, University "Magna Grecia" of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy.
Vincenzo MollaceDepartment of Health Sciences, Institute of Research for Food Safety and Health (IRC-FSH), University Magna Graecia, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy.
Giovanni ImprotaDepartment of Public Health, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
Sandrine ZweifelDepartment of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, Frauenklinikstrasse 24, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland.
Vincenzo ScorciaOphthalmology Unit, Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, University "Magna Grecia" of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy.
Mario Damiano Toro *Ophthalmology Division, Special Surgery Department, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
Adriano Carnevali *Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, University "Magna Grecia" of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy. adrianocarnevali@unicz.it.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9950-6743

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionTo evaluate long-term outcomes of neovascular age-related macular degeneration(nAMD) treatment with aflibercept in a treat-and-extend (T&E) regimen and explore correlations between optical coherence tomography (OCT) biomarkers and clinical evolution over 5 years in a real-world setting.

methodsThis retrospective monocentric study included patients diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 nAMD at the University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro between 2016 and 2024. Inclusion criteria were treatment-naïve status, diagnosis confirmed by OCT and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A), exclusive treatment with intravitreal aflibercept following a T&E regimen, and a minimum 5-year follow-up. Best-correct visual acuity (BCVA) and OCT were assessed at baseline, after the third injection, and yearly up to year 5 (seven time points). Evaluated OCT biomarkers included subretinal and intraretinal fluid (SRF, IRF), hyperreflective spots (HS), drusenoid pigment epithelial detachment (dPED), subretinal hyperreflective material (SHRM), outer retinal tubulations (ORT), onion sign, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) tears, and subretinal fibrosis.

resultsAmong 59 cases, 57.6% were type 1 macular neovascularization (MNV) and 42.4% type 2. At the baseline, SRF was more common in type 1, SHRM in type 2. Central foveal thickness (CFT) decreased significantly in both groups after loading and remained stable. SRF decreased significantly in type 1 (p = 0.001), but not in type 2. dPED decreased in both groups, significantly in type 1 (p = 0.01). HS decreased in patients with type 1 MNV (p = 0.009). RPE tears were more frequent in type 2 (12%) and linked to BCVA loss. For type 2 MNV, ORT (p = 0.035) and subretinal fibrosis appeared from year 5 (p = 0.006). BCVA improved after loading in both groups, declined after year 2, and was better preserved in those with better visual acuity after the loading dose.

conclusionsBaseline SHRM in type 2 MNV may predict more IRF, ORT, and RPE tears over time. Type 1 MNV with baseline SRF often shows reduced HS and dPED but may develop subretinal fibrosis. BCVA gains after loading wane by year 5, and eyes needing ongoing treatment for persistent OCT biomarkers decline gradually in both subtypes (significant in type 1).

Indexed as

AfliberceptAge-related macular degenerationMacular neovascularizationOptical coherence tomography biomarkersTreat-and-Extend

Identifiers

PMID40971067
PMCPMC12534646

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.