Dataset Information

Incidence of Macular Atrophy after Untreated Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Age-Related Eye Disease Study Report 40.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To report the natural history of untreated neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) regarding subsequent macular atrophy.

Design

Prospective cohort within a randomized, controlled trial of oral micronutrient supplements.

Participants

Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) participants (55-80 years) who demonstrated nAMD during follow-up (1992-2005), prior to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy.

Methods

Color fundus photographs were collected at annual study visits and graded centrally for late age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Incident macular atrophy after nAMD was examined by Kaplan-Meier analysis and proportional hazards regression.

Main outcome measures

Incident macular atrophy after nAMD.

Results

Of the 4757 AREDS participants, 708 eyes (627 participants) demonstrated nAMD during follow-up and were eligible. The cumulative risks of incident macular atrophy after untreated nAMD were 9.6% (standard error, 1.2%), 31.4% (standard error, 2.2%), 43.1% (standard error, 2.6%), and 61.5% (standard error, 4.3%) at 2, 5, 7, and 10 years, respectively. This corresponded to a linear risk of 6.5% per year. The cumulative risk of central involvement was 30.4% (standard error, 3.2%), 43.4% (standard error, 3.8%), and 57.0% (standard error, 4.8%) at first appearance of atrophy, 2 years, and 5 years, respectively. Geographic atrophy (GA) in the fellow eye was associated with increased risk of macular atrophy (hazard ratio [HR], 1.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17-2.49; P = 0.006). However, higher 52-single nucleotide polymorphism AMD genetic risk score was not associated with increased risk of macular atrophy (HR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.90-1.17; P = 0.67). Similarly, no significant differences were observed according to SNPs at CFH, ARMS2, or C3.

Conclusions

The rate of incident macular atrophy after untreated nAMD is relatively high, increasing linearly over time and affecting half of eyes by 8 years. Hence, factors other than anti-VEGF therapy are involved in atrophy development, including natural progression to GA. Comparison with studies of treated nAMD suggests it may not be necessary to invoke a large effect of anti-VEGF therapy on inciting macular atrophy, although a contribution remains possible. Central involvement is present in one third of eyes at the outset (similar to pure GA) and increases linearly to half at 3 years.

SUBMITTER: Christakis PG

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7246151 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Purpose:To identify the development and progression of macular retinal pigment epithelial atrophy in eyes with neovascular (CNV) age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and to correlate with visual acuity (VA). Design:Cohort study. Participants:Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) participants with intermediate AMD enrolled in a randomized controlled clinical trial of oral supplements. Analyses were conducted in the subset of AREDS2 participants who were also enrolled in the fundus autofluorescence ancillary (FAF) ancillary study. Methods:Color photographs and FAF images were evaluated in eyes that developed CNV. Presence of geographic atrophy (GA) prior to the incidence of CNV and the development of macular atrophy following incident CNV were assessed. Areas of hypoautofluorescence representing atrophy were measured for area and macular involvement. Enlargement rate of atrophy and change in visual acuity over time were analyzed. Main Outcome Measures:incidence and enlargement rate of atrophy and VA changes in eyes with incident CNV. Results:Incident CNV developed in 334 (9.2%) of eyes evaluated in the AREDS2 FAF substudy. Of these, 40% had macular atrophy at incidence of CNV with half of these attributable to pre-existing GA. Atrophy developed in 14.7 % of eyes over 4 years of follow-up. Mean area of atrophy was largest in eyes with pre-existing GA and CNV (5.17 mm2, p<0.001), and atrophy involved the center of the macula in > 65% of eyes. Mean VA letter score at the annual visit in which CNV was documented was similar in the three groups with atrophy; eyes with CNV and pre-existing GA, incident atrophy at the first visit with CNV, and atrophy during follow up (60 letters). Enlargement rate of atrophy was also similar in eyes in the three groups (1.23 - 1.86 mm2, p = 0.47). Eyes with macular atrophy lost more visual acuity compared to eyes without atrophy, particularly after 2 years of follow-up (-10.9 vs. - 3.6 letters, p = 0.07). Conclusion:Atrophy is commonly seen in neovascular AMD and often can be attributed to pre-existing GA. Macular atrophy and GA appear to be a continuum of the same disease process and are both associated with poor vision.

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