[Specific biomarkers of response to antiangiogenic therapy]

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME) are the main causes of blindness in the elderly and loss of central vision in patients with diabetic retinopathy, respectively. Anti-VEGF therapy is currently the gold standard for treatment of such patients; it has proved its effectiveness in both randomized clinical trials and clinical practice. However, it should be taken into account that the extent of therapeutic response varies depending on individual characteristics of patients, including the presence of biomarkers that predict the therapeutic response. Numerous studies have discovered a variety of biomarkers for patients with DME and AMD, but their reliability differs and not all of them are eligible for predicting the effectiveness of the treatment. Compared to full clinical examination, biomarkers can offer shorter clinical study duration and lower costs. Most of the specific biomarkers for predicting the response to antiangiogenic therapy are identified using optical coherence tomography. The purpose of this article is to provide contemporary data on the diagnosis and treatment of patients depending on the presence of specific biomarkers.