Comparative effectiveness and harms of intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor agents for three retinal conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis

• Published in: British journal of ophthalmology Vol. 103; no. 4; pp. 442 - 451
• Main Authors: Low, Allison, Faridi, Ambar, Bhavsar, Kavita V, Cockerham, Glenn C, Freeman, Michele, Fu, Rochelle, Paynter, Robin, Kondo, Karli, Kansagara, Devan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group LTD 01.04.2019
• Subjects: Age; Angiogenesis Inhibitors - administration & dosage; Bevacizumab - administration & dosage; Bias; Biological products; Collaboration; Cost analysis; Diabetes; Diabetic retinopathy; Drug dosages; Edema; Evidence-based medicine; FDA approval; Humans; Immunotherapy; Intravitreal Injections; Macular degeneration; Macular Edema - diagnosis; Macular Edema - drug therapy; Meta-analysis; Monoclonal antibodies; Morphology; Ophthalmology; Ranibizumab - administration & dosage; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor - administration & dosage; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - administration & dosage; Retinal Vein Occlusion - diagnosis; Retinal Vein Occlusion - drug therapy; Systematic review; Tomography; Treatment Outcome; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - antagonists & inhibitors; Visual Acuity; Wet Macular Degeneration - diagnosis; Wet Macular Degeneration - drug therapy; United States > US; central or branch retinal vein occlusion; Anti-VEGF therapy; aflibercept; bevacizumab; age-related macular degeneration; ranibizumab; diabetic macular edema
• ISSN: 0007-1161; 1468-2079
• DOI: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2018-312691

Intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents are widely used to treat ocular conditions but the benefits and harms of these treatments are uncertain. We conducted a systematic review to compare the effects of aflibercept, bevacizumab and ranibizumab on best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) changes, quality of life and ocular or systemic adverse events in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (NVAMD), diabetic macular oedema (DME) and central or branch retinal vein occlusion (RVO). We searched published and unpublished literature sources to February 2017 for randomised controlled trials and cohort or modelling studies reporting comparative costs in the USA. Two reviewers extracted data and graded the strength of the evidence using established methods. Of 17 included trials, none reported a clinically important difference (≥ 5 letters) in visual acuity gains between agents. Nine trials provide high-strength evidence of no difference between bevacizumab and ranibizumab for NVAMD. Three trials provide moderate-strength evidence of no difference between bevacizumab and ranibizumab for DME. There was low-strength evidence of similar effects between aflibercept and ranibizumab for NVAMD, aflibercept and bevacizumab for RVO and all three agents for DME. There was insufficient evidence to compare bevacizumab and ranibizumab for RVO. Rates of ocular adverse events were low, and systemic harms were generally similar between groups, although 1 DME trial reported more arterial thrombotic events with ranibizumab versus aflibercept. Overall, no agent had a clear advantage over another for effectiveness or safety. Aflibercept and ranibizumab were significantly less cost-effective than repackaged bevacizumab in two trials. Systematic review registration number: CRD42016034076.