Baseline Predictors of 12-Month Treatment Response to Ranibizumab in Patients With Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration

PurposeTo identify baseline characteristics predictive of visual acuity (VA) outcomes at month 12 (M12) and treatment frequency in the first 12 months of the phase III HARBOR study.DesignRetrospective, exploratory analysis of multicenter randomized controlled trial data.Methodssetting: Randomized, multicenter. study population: Patients aged ≥50 years with subfoveal wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) who had best-corrected VA (BCVA) values measured at baseline and M12. intervention: Intravitreal ranibizumab 0.5 mg administered monthly (n = 249) or as needed (PRN) after 3 monthly loading doses (n = 251). main outcome measures: BCVA change from baseline at M12, percentage of patients who gained ≥15 letters (3 lines) in BCVA from baseline at M12, and percentage of patients who achieved ≥20/40 vision (Snellen) at M12 served as the basis for analyzing baseline predictors of observed VA outcomes in the monthly and PRN groups. Total number of ranibizumab PRN injections in the first 12 months was also evaluated. Only variables that were statistically significant (P < .05) remained in the final statistical models.ResultsBaseline predictors of BCVA change from baseline at M12 and/or percentage of 3-line gainers included lower BCVA, younger age, smaller total choroidal neovascularization (CNV) leakage area, smaller area of occult CNV, and presence of subretinal fluid (SRF). Baseline predictors of ≥20/40 vision at M12 included higher BCVA, smaller total CNV leakage area, and presence of SRF. SRF thickness >118.25 μm at baseline predicted requiring more ranibizumab injections in the first 12 months of treatment.ConclusionsSelect baseline characteristics have predictive value for visual prognosis and treatment frequency in ranibizumab-treated patients with wet AMD.