section name header

Evidence summaries

Surgical Implantation of Steroids with Antiangiogenic Characteristics for Treating Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration

There is insufficient evidence on the benefits and harms of steroids with antiangiogenic properties for treating neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Level of evidence: "D"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 3 studies with a total of 809 subjects. One trial compared different doses of acetonide anecortave acetate with placebo, a second trial compared triamcinolone acetonide versus placebo, and the third trial compared anecortave acetate against photodynamic therapy (PDT). We did not conduct a meta-analysis owing to heterogeneity of interventions and comparisons. The risk ratio for loss of 3 or more lines of vision at 12 months follow-up was 0.8 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.45 to 1.45) with 3 mg anecortave acetate, 0.45 (95% CI = 0.21 to 0.97) with 15 mg anecortave acetate, 0.91 (0.52 to 1.58) with 30 mg anecortave acetate, 0.97 (95% CI 0.74 to 1.26) with triamcinolone acetonide, all compared to placebo and 1.08 (95% CI 0.91 to 1.29) with anecortave acetate compared with PDT.

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study quality (unclear allocation concealment, more than 20% loss to follow up and inadequate intention-to-treat adherence), by inconsistency (variability in results across studies) and by imprecise results (limited study size for each comparison).

    References

    • Geltzer A, Turalba A, Vedula SS. Surgical implantation of steroids with antiangiogenic characteristics for treating neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2013;(1):CD005022. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords