%0 Journal Article
%T Short-term real-world outcomes following intravitreal brolucizumab for neovascular AMD: SHIFT study.
%A Bulirsch LM
%A Saßmannshausen M
%A Nadal J
%A Liegl R
%A Thiele S
%A Holz FG
%J Br J Ophthalmol
%V 0
%N 0
%D Apr 2021 12
%M 33846161
%F 5.908
%R 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2020-318672
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Brolucizumab has recently been approved in Europe as a novel treatment for patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). We report on early experiences with real-world outcomes of switch to brolucizumab therapy in previously anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF)-treated patients.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Patients with recalcitrant nAMD were switched to brolucizumab therapy. Functional and structural parameters 4 weeks after first brolucizumab injection were evaluated including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA (logMAR)), foveal centre point (FCP (µm)), central subfield retinal thickness (CSRT (µm)) and macular volume (mm³).<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Sixty-three eyes of 57 patients with nAMD (52.6% females) with a mean (±SD) age of 79.5±6.7 years were included. Mean change of BCVA was 0.03±0.14 logMAR (p=0.115). Significant reductions were recorded for FCP with a mean (±SD) change of -66.81±72.63 µm, -66.76±60.71 µm for CSRT and -0.27±0.24 mm³ for macular volume (all p<0.001). Intraocular inflammation was observed in seven eyes of seven patients, including one case of retinal vasculitis.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>The results of the SHIFT study indicate that switch to brolucizumab may represent a treatment option in patients with nAMD poorly responsive to other anti-VEGF agents. Further long-term analyses appear prudent to assess efficacy and safety of brolucizumab in a routine clinical setting.