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Characterization of Vascular Morphology of Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration by Indocyanine Green Angiography
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Published on: August 11, 2023

Ranibizumab combined with low-dose sorafenib for exudative age-related macular degeneration

Teresa Diago1, Jose S Pulido, Julian R Molina

  • 1Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.

Mayo Clinic Proceedings
|February 5, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Adding sorafenib to ranibizumab therapy showed potential benefits for patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Optical coherence tomography revealed marked improvement in both cases, suggesting further investigation in randomized trials.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Angiogenesis is implicated in both cancer and exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
  • Angiogenesis inhibition is a therapeutic strategy for these conditions.
  • Standard treatment for neovascular AMD often involves anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents.

Observation:

  • Two cases of recurrent exudative AMD were treated with oral sorafenib (a tyrosine kinase inhibitor) added to intravitreal ranibizumab (an anti-VEGF antibody).
  • Patients were monitored using visual acuity, fluorescein angiography, fundoscopy, and optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Findings:

  • One patient experienced improved visual acuity from 20/70 to 20/60 with sorafenib therapy.
  • Both patients showed marked improvement on OCT.
  • Both patients appeared to benefit from low-dose oral sorafenib monotherapy after initial combination treatment.

Implications:

  • Adding sorafenib to standard therapy may benefit patients with neovascular AMD.
  • Further investigation through randomized clinical trials is warranted.
  • Sorafenib's potential role in managing exudative AMD warrants exploration.

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