Aqueous−humor biomarkers and real−world efficacy of conbercept for diabetic macular edema: a prospective study in elderly patients

• Published in: Frontiers in endocrinology (Lausanne) Vol. 16; p. 1632878
• Main Author: Xie, Min
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 07.07.2025
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aqueous Humor - metabolism; aqueous humor biomarkers; Biomarkers - analysis; Biomarkers - metabolism; conbercept; diabetic macular edema; Diabetic Retinopathy - drug therapy; Diabetic Retinopathy - metabolism; Diabetic Retinopathy - pathology; elderly; Endocrinology; Female; Humans; IL-6; Interleukin-6 - metabolism; Macular Edema - drug therapy; Macular Edema - etiology; Macular Edema - metabolism; Macular Edema - pathology; Male; Prospective Studies; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - administration & dosage; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - therapeutic use; Treatment Outcome; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - metabolism; VEGF; Visual Acuity - drug effects; aqueous humor biomarkers; VEGF; conbercept; elderly; IL-6; diabetic macular edema
• ISSN: 1664-2392; 1664-2392
• DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2025.1632878

To evaluate real-world efficacy of conbercept and the predictive value of aqueous-humor biomarkers in elderly diabetic macular edema (DME). In this single-arm, prospective study, 150 patients ≥ 65 years received three monthly conbercept injections followed by pro-re-nata dosing over 6 months. Baseline vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were quantified from aqueous humor; best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central subfield thickness (CST) were monitored. Mixed-effects modelling and receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) analysis explored associations between biomarkers and outcomes. Mean BCVA improved by approximately nine ETDRS letters, and CST declined by about 85 µm at Month 6. Higher baseline VEGF and IL-6 were associated with greater CST reduction and moderately increased odds of a ≥ 15-letter gain; VEGF showed fair discriminative ability (AUC=0.74). Treatment was well-tolerated, with no unexpected ocular or systemic adverse events. Conbercept produced meaningful anatomical and functional benefits in an elderly DME cohort. Baseline aqueous VEGF and IL-6, while not definitive stand-alone tests, may help identify eyes likely to achieve pronounced anatomical improvement and warrant further investigation as components of a multi-marker predictive panel.