Role of Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Following-up Choroidal Neovascular Membranes during the Course of Aflibercept Therapy

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate the mean area of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and the flow area within the CNV and determine their value in monitoring the effect of aflibercept therapy. Study Design: prospective, interventional study. Place and Duration of Study: Tanta University Hospital in the period between March 2017 and March 2019. Methodology: OCT angiography images were obtained using the AngioVue (Optovue Inc., CA, USA). For quantitative analysis of the mean area of CNV and the flow area within the CNV, the CNV was manually delineated with the help of the manufacturer’s automated software, and the parameters of interest were automatically calculated and generated. Results: The study included forty eyes of 40 patients, 14 females and 26 males, the mean age of patients was 69 ± 5 years. The mean baseline best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 51.29 ± 14.80 ETDRS letters, which significantly increased to 63.41 ± 5.03 at week 36; p-value < 0.05. The mean area of choroidal neovascularization decreased significantly from baseline (2.72 ± 4.29 mm2) to week 36 (1.53 ± 1.07 mm2); p-value < 0.05. The the flow area within the measured CNV decreased significantly from baseline (2.28 ± 2.08 mm2) to week 36 (0.91 ± 0.63 mm2); p-value < 0.05. Conclusion: The mean area of CNV and the flow area within the measured CNV are valuable biomarkers for following up CNV during treatment with aflibercept.