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Mark H. Criswell, PhD; Wen-Zheng Hu, MD, PhD; Timothy J. Steffens, MS, CRA; Ruihong Li, MD, PhD; Philippe Margaron, PhD

Arch Ophthalmol. 2008;126(7):946-952.

Objective  To evaluate the prophylactic effect of intravitreal pegaptanib sodium on choroidal neovascularization membrane (CNVM) development and compare its performance with that of triamcinolone acetonide.

Methods  In drug-treated and control groups, CNVMs were induced by laser trauma. Immediately after undergoing the laser procedure, animals received intravitreal injections of pegaptanib sodium, 8 or 17 µg; triamcinolone acetonide, 200 µg; or a vehicle solution. After 21 days, fluorescein angiography was performed. The CNVM mean diameters and radial thicknesses were measured histologically.

Results  Mean CNVM diameters were 10% to 13% smaller in pegaptanib-treated eyes and 43% smaller in triamcinolone-treated eyes compared with laser-only control eyes. Late-stage fluorescein angiography leakage scores, on a scale of 0 to 3, suggested a statistical difference between triamcinolone- (0.6) and pegaptanib_{8 µg}-treated (1.5) groups compared with the laser-only control group (2.0). The CNVM mean thicknesses were greater in the pegaptanib_{8 µg}- (79 µm) and pegaptanib_{17 µg}-treated (71 µm) groups and significantly smaller in the triamcinolone-treated group (26 µm) compared with the laser-only control group (67 µm).

Conclusion  In this animal model of choroidal neovascularization, intravitreal pegaptanib exhibited marginal or no effect on CNVM development; whereas intravitreal triamcinolone evoked robust inhibition of CNVMs.

Clinical Relevance  Pegaptanib treatment may be insufficient to prevent CNVM formation.

Author Affiliations: Retina Service Research Laboratories, Department of Ophthalmology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis (Drs Criswell and Hu and Mr Steffens); and QLT Inc, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (Drs Li and Margaron).

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