AQUEOUS VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR AFTER INTRAVITREAL INJECTION OF PEGAPTANIB OR RANIBIZUMAB IN PATIENTS WITH AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentrations in the aqueous humor of eyes after intravitreal injections of pegaptanib or ranibizumab in patients with age-related macular degeneration. METHODS: Aqueous humor samples were obtained from 16 eyes with choroidal neo-vascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration before and after intravitreal injections of pegaptanib (0.3 mg; 5 eyes) and ranibizumab (0.5 mg; 11 eyes). The VEGF concentration was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a primary antibody against VEGF121 and VEGF165. RESULTS: The VEGF concentrations in the aqueous humor of eyes with age-related macular degeneration ranged from 35.3 pg/mL to 142.4 pg/mL (mean +/- standard deviation, 90.9 pg/mL +/- 40.0 pg/mL) before the injection of pegaptanib and increased significantly, ranging from 298.2 pg/mL to 571.3 pg/mL (mean +/- standard deviation, 452.0 pg/mL +/- 106.4 pg/mL) 6 weeks after the injection (P = 0.005). The VEGF concentrations ranged from 47.2 pg/mL to 307.4 pg/mL (mean +/- standard deviation, 125.9 pg/mL +/- 77.2 pg/mL) before injection of ranibizumab and decreased to <31 pg/mL, the lower limit of detection, 4 weeks after injection. CONCLUSION: The VEGF concentrations in the aqueous humor of eyes with age-related macular degeneration decreased after injections of ranibizumab and increased after injections of pegaptanib.