(Press-News.org) Clarksburg, MD—This week, the second-year results of an important clinical trial on age-related macular degeneration (AMD), known as the Comparison of AMD Treatments Trials (or CATT), were published in the journal Ophthalmology. Researchers found that two drugs known as Avastin (bevacizumab) and Lucentis (ranibizumab), commonly used to treat the wet form of AMD, were similarly effective in maintaining vision.
In this clinical trial funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI) of the National Institutes of Health, CATT researchers found that two years into the study, two-thirds of patients retained a vision of 20/40 or better, whereas only 15% of patients retained similar vision with previous treatments.
"As a nonprofit organization that funds groundbreaking research and provides public information on AMD, the American Health Assistance Foundation welcomes discoveries from the CATT trials on wet AMD, which affects two million Americans," says AHAF Vice President for Scientific Affairs, Guy Eakin, Ph.D. "We also call for more support of research on this and other eye diseases. In the future, our goals are not just to maintain vision, but to restore vision and ultimately to prevent the disease entirely."
For both drugs, vision was slightly better with monthly injections, rather than with less frequent or "as-needed" injections. However, study authors were also quick to note that since as-needed dosing requires fewer drug injections into the eye, some patients, following consultation with their eye doctor, may elect not to choose monthly injections, balancing relative risks and cost.
"While this study neither adds nor removes the number of drug choices available to the eye care provider, it does facilitate better informed decision making between the doctor and patient," says Eakin. He notes the findings of study authors, who conclude, "The choice of drug and dosing regimen for patients must balance the comparable effects on vision, the possibility of true differences in adverse events, and the 40-fold difference in cost between [Lucentis and Avastin]."
AMD is the leading cause of irreversible central vision loss in people older than age 60. The disease affects the central area of the retina known as the macula, and, without treatment, gradually destroys the central vision needed to conduct many activities of daily living. Although vision loss from AMD cannot be reversed at present, early detection and treatment can halt the progression of the disease.
In the wet form of AMD, Avastin and Lucentis, two therapies known as angiogenesis inhibitors, block the growth of abnormal blood vessels and fluid leakages that damage the eye. Lucentis was approved for AMD treatment by the FDA in 2006; Avastin is approved for other purposes but has been used "off-label" to treat AMD. Both are manufactured by Genentech, and Lucentis is significantly more expensive that Avastin.
"AMD patients should note that serious adverse events—involving the development or worsening of medical conditions—occurred at a 40% rate for Avastin and a 32% rate for Lucentis," adds Eakin. "However, the study authors note that CATT was not capable of determining whether there was an association between a particular adverse event and treatment. The median age of CATT patients was older than 80, and certain medical conditions are more common to elderly populations. AMD patients should discuss the risk of adverse events with their eye doctor."
"While we welcome the latest information from the CATT study, AHAF urges even more public and privately funded research on AMD," notes Eakin. "This is particularly true for the more common dry form of AMD affecting nine million Americans, for which there are no approved treatment options at present."
The drugs reviewed in the CATT study focus only on the growth of blood vessels in the wet form of the disease. Says Eakin, "We need to target other aspects of the disease, like inflammation and protection of neurons. We also need a stronger national commitment to funding eye research and to improving the lives of people affected by or vulnerable to AMD and other blinding eye diseases."
INFORMATION:
About the American Health Assistance Foundation
The American Health Assistance Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding cures for age-related degenerative diseases by funding research worldwide under its three programs: Alzheimer's Disease Research, Macular Degeneration Research, and National Glaucoma Research. AHAF also provides public information about these diseases, including risk factors, preventative lifestyles, current treatments, and coping strategies.
END
COLUMBUS, Ohio - New research suggests that there could be health hazards associated with consuming excessive amounts of beta-carotene.
This antioxidant is a naturally occurring pigment that gives color to foods such as carrots, sweet potatoes and certain greens. It also converts to vitamin A, and foods and supplements are the only sources for this essential nutrient.
But scientists at Ohio State University have found that certain molecules that derive from beta-carotene have an opposite effect in the body: They actually block some actions of vitamin A, which is critical ...
To further increase patients' awareness of dental health care and his practice, Dr. Donald Rozema, Atlanta family dentist, is happy to announce the launch of a mobile website for his practice. The new mobile website was created to offer smartphone and tablet users a quick, and easy way to access important information about Dr. Rozema, his practice and dental health care information.
"More and more people are using smartphones and tablet devices to look up information they need. From restaurants to daily news articles, we are always on the go," said Dr. Donald ...
Expecting parents are encouraged to visit Dr. Nimisha Shukla, Woodbridge best pediatrician, for a free prenatal consultation. With free prenatal consultations, Dr. Shukla gives expecting parents the opportunity to meet with the doctor who will be caring for their child over the next 20 years in order to establish a child's medical home.
Dr. Shukla, best pediatrician in Edison, offers in-office and telephonic prenatal consultations. At the prenatal visit a mother's obstetric history, prenatal history, and ultrasound results are discussed, in addition to identifying high-risk ...
Board certified gastroenterologists in Philadelphia, Bala Cynwyd and Langhorne, PA, G.I. Specialists, invite patients that are constantly on-the-go to visit their technologically advanced mobile website. With the recent launch of their mobile website, patients can now gain easy access to G.I. Specialists, gastroenterologists in Langhorne, without the complications of slow loading, difficult to navigate webpages.
"Today, a host of people are accessing the Internet from their smartphones and tablet devices, but many websites are still stuck in the age of computer-only ...
By maintaining the highest level of continuing education standards, Dr. John Petruccelli, Montreal dentist, has received a Fellowship from the Academy of General Dentistry. With less than 2% of dentists in Canada holding this Fellowship status, Dr. Petruccelli is honored to receive this.
"It is a great honor to receive a Fellowship from the Academy of General Dentistry. I look forward to continuing to maintain the highest level of continuing education, while providing my patients with quality dental care they deserve and trust," said Dr. John Petruccelli, ...
COLUMBUS, Ohio - A national study suggests that a significantly greater number of highly educated women in their late 30s and 40s are deciding to have children - a dramatic turnaround from recent history.
Among college-educated women, childlessness peaked in the late 1990s, when about 30 percent had no children, according to the new analysis of U.S. data. But childlessness declined about 5 percentage points between 1998 and 2008.
"We may be seeing the beginning of a new trend," said Bruce Weinberg, co-author of the study and professor of economics at Ohio State University.
"One ...
Dr. Zina Shoaib, an experienced Ajax dentist, has recently announced the launch of her practice's Facebook, Twitter, and blog. The practice's new presence on these leading social media platforms has enabled the practice to communicate with existing and prospective patients more effectively and efficiently.
Patients can now read Dr. Shoaib's blog for informal dental information or become a "fan" or "friend" of the practice's Facebook, and Twitter pages for updates on office happenings. To access and join Dr. Shoaib's social network, patients can visit ...
Conservationists with the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology have found that larger male gorillas living in the rainforests of Congo seem to be more successful than smaller ones at attracting mates and even raising young.
The study—conducted over a 12-year period in Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park in the Republic of Congo—helps to illuminate the selective pressures that influence the evolution of great apes.
The study appears in a recent edition of Journal of Human Evolution. The authors of the study include: Thomas ...
To improve his practice, and further increase his patients' confidence, Dr. Jeffrey Harris, dentist in Warrenton, VA, invites patients to leave and view testimonials via his practice website.
While visiting the website for Dr. Harris, patients can access the testimonial page to view positive reviews from numerous patients. Each patient has received various treatments from Dr. Harris including treatments such as Warrenton ClearCorrect, as well as veneers and dental implants in Warrenton. The testimonials show their satisfaction with the services they received in addition ...
Since 1994, Dr. Shervin Louie, dentist in Beverly Hills, has been practicing dentistry in California. With over 15 years of experience, Dr. Louie provides patients with the best in available dental health care.
Upon his graduation from USC in 1994, he pursued additional training in the area of Cosmetic and Implant Reconstruction. He then joined the faculty at the University of Southern California as a clinical professor. In 2006 he received an award for outstanding Service to the School of Dentistry for the past ten years. In addition, since 1996, Dr. Shervin Louie, ...
