Systemic thromboembolic adverse events in patients treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF drugs for neovascular age-related macular degeneration: an update

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Intravitreal anti-VEGF is the most effective therapy for wet AMD, although systemic effects on the endothelium cannot be excluded.

Areas covered: The purpose of this review was to evaluate risk of thromboembolic events associated with intravitreal anti-VEGF.

Expert opinion: Current data are insufficient to confirm the safety of these compounds, due to the paucity of specific studies. Thus, pharmacovigilance for all anti-VEGF should be improved to verify the true role of anti-VEGF in the occurrence of systemic adverse events.

KEYWORDS:

• Abicipar
• aflibercept
• age-related macular degeneration
• anti-VEGF
• bevacizumab
• conbercept
• ranibizumab
• thromboembolic adverse events

Article highlights

• Anti-VEGF agents represent a turning point in the treatment of AMD in terms of efficacy.

• Arterial thrombotic risk appears sufficiently low when compared with the natural incidence of arterial-thrombotic events in elderly patients and is acceptably balanced against the advantage of improved vision.

• Rates of serious cardiovascular adverse events are similar in patients treated with different anti-VEGF drugs.

• All patients undergoing treatment with anti-VEGF agents, however, require long-term general monitoring.

This box summarizes key points contained in the article.

Declaration of interest

The author has no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.