THAT'SNEWS Macular
AN INCREASE IN PRESSURE in the eye prompted concerns about a drug aimed to treat age-related macular degeneration. Ranibizumab (Lucentis), a U.S. Food
and Drug Administration-approved injection designed to treat patients suffering from progressive age-related blindness, was linked to an increase of intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients of Sophie Bakri, M.D., a Mayo Clinic ophthalmologist. Two control groups — one group
receiving the Lucentis injection and the other not receiving the injection — were evaluated during a two- year study to determine the drug's effectiveness in treating multiple forms of macular degeneration. The study did reveal an increase in IOP in patients who had received the injec- tion, regardless of pre-existing risk factors, such as ocular hypertension and glaucoma. Dr. Bakri concluded that though
it couldn't be determined why the ranibizumab injection increases IOP, her findings suggested that IOP should be closely monitored in those receiving the treatment. ■
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Degeneration Drug Blindsided by Potential Side Effect
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