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New treatment of Macular Degeneration Unveiled at AKU
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Pakistan’s first patients treated by angiogenesis inhibitors
Aga Khan University (AKU) has initiated a new step towards the treatment
of age-related macular degeneration, a dangerous cause of irreversible
vision impairment, by using a new-generation of drugs called angiogenesis
inhibitors.
Macular degeneration is a physical disturbance in the retina of the
eye, caused by the formation or growth of new blood vessels, leading
to permanent central visual loss. Current treatments utilize laser-based
therapy to destroy offending blood vessels. However, this treatment
is not optimal since the laser can permanently scar the overlying
retina and the offending blood vessels often re-grow. New trials have
recently been initiated to investigate if angiogenesis inhibitors
can effectively inhibit the growth of new vessels in age-related macular
degeneration.
At AKU, Dr Azam Ali, Head of Ophthalmology, treated the first and
only two patients in Pakistan with this newer generation of drugs,
called Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) inhibitors, which
are injected into the eye and supposed to stop the proliferation of
new vessels under the retina. Dr Azam Ali administered this treatment
to his first patient last year as part of an international trial of
this new drug, and has achieved excellent results. The second patient
under treatment is also reacting positively to these drugs.
“Macular degeneration has long been considered one of the most
intriguing challenges for ophthalmologists,” says Dr Ali. The
macula, he explains, is the part of the retina which is capable of
providing the most acute and detailed vision, and is used for reading,
driving, recognising faces, and fine work. “The need for newer
and more effective treatment continues and considerable research has
gone into preventing central visual loss from macular degeneration,”
says Dr Ali.
Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is another new procedure available for
patients with macular degeneration. This still infrequently used,
specialised laser procedure was only approved in the USA in 2000.
Therefore, Pakistani patients with macular degeneration had to go
to the United States to benefit from this technological advancement.
But in 2002, Dr Ali initiated this innovative procedure at AKU and
produced excellent results. AKU is now the leader in Pakistan in the
treatment of macular degeneration with Photo Dynamic Therapy (PDT).
“We have treated more than 300 patients with PDT with wonderful
results which have been presented and appreciated locally and internationally,”
noted Dr Ali.
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