Nutritional Supplementation Inhibits the Increase in Serum Malondialdehyde in Patients with Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Purpose. To compare serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD), patients with dry AMD (dAMD), and patients without AMD and to evaluate the efficacy of nutritional supplementation for treating elevated serum MDA in patients with wAMD. Methods. MDA levels were measured in sera from 20 patients with wAMD, 20 with dAMD, and 24 without AMD. Patients with wAMD were randomized to receive or not receive nutritional supplementation (10 patients in each group), and MDA levels were measured after 3 months of treatment. Results. MDA levels in patients with wAMD were significantly greater compared with patients without AMD. In eyes with wAMD, there was a significant correlation between MDA levels and choroidal neovascularization lesion area. Serum MDA levels decreased in most patients that received supplementation and significantly increased in those who did not. Conclusion. Baseline serum MDA levels were elevated in patients with wAMD, and MDA levels were directly correlated with choroidal neovascularization lesion area. In addition, nutritional supplementation appeared to exert a protective effect against oxidative stress in patients with wAMD

Comparison between 1-year outcomes of aflibercept with and without photodynamic therapy for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: Retrospective observation study

<div><p>Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is characterized by polyp-like choroidal neovascularization and a branching vascular network. Intravitreal aflibercept injection (IAI) or photodynamic therapy (PDT) is used for treatment. We retrospectively compared the 1-year outcomes of IAI monotherapy and its combination with initial PDT for PCV. Twelve eyes with naïve PCV received three IAIs and a single PDT after the first IAI and as needed injection (combination group); 11 eyes with naïve PCV received three IAIs and as needed injections (IAI group). Significant improvements in visual acuity after 2 months and in CRT after 1 month were maintained at 12 months in both groups (both <i>P</i> < 0.05); groups did not differ significantly at any time point. CCT significantly reduced after 3 and 12 months in the combination group (both <i>P</i> < 0.05) but not in the IAI group. A mean of 3.7 ± 0.9 and 5.6 ± 2.0 injections was administered to the combination and IAI groups, respectively (<i>P</i> = 0.013). Within a 1-year period, combination therapy was found to yield similar visual acuity and retinal structure improvements and maintenance as IAI monotherapy while requiring fewer IAIs.</p></div

Central retinal thickness (CRT) and central choroidal thickness (CCT) outcomes in the two study groups.

<p><b>(A)</b> Reductions in CRT were maintained at 12 months after both treatments, and no significant differences were observed between the groups at any time point during the 12-month study period. <b>(B)</b> A significant reduction in CCT from baseline to 3 and 12 months was observed in the combination group. No significant differences were observed between the two groups at any time point. * <i>P</i> < 0.05, ** <i>P</i> < 0.01 by Repeated measures ANOVA.</p

Outcome of visual acuity.

<p>Outcome of visual acuity.</p

Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) outcomes in the two study groups.

<p>Improvements in BCVA were maintained at 12 months in both groups, and no significant differences were observed between the groups at any time point. * <i>P</i> < 0.05 by Repeated measures ANOVA.</p

Outcomes of central retinal thickness and central choroidal thickness.

<p>Outcomes of central retinal thickness and central choroidal thickness.</p

Changes in best-corrected visual acuity at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months in the two study groups.

<p>Visual acuity improvements were maintained at 12 months in both groups, and no significant inter-group differences were observed at any time point.</p

Numbers of intravitreal aflibercept injections (IAI) administered to the two study groups.

<p><b>(A)</b> Significantly fewer IAIs were administered to the combination group than to the IAI group. <b>(B)</b> The groups had no significant difference in terms of the percentage of cases over 12 months. * <i>P</i> < 0.05 by Mann–Whitney <i>U</i> test.</p

Patient characteristics.

<p>Patient characteristics.</p