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This abstract is assigned to session OB Free papers: Medical retina

Title	FRO: Anti-PLGF, a good alternative to anti-VEGF in the treatment of AMD?
Abstract Nr.	244

Purpose	To complete the efficacy study of PlGF blockage in inhibiting choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in a mouse model of AMD.
Methods	A laser-induced CNV model was used in C57Bl/6 mice. Mice were injected intraperitoneally with 6.25; 12.5 or 25 mg/kg of an anti-PlGF-antibody, an anti-VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR2) antibody, a combination of both, or a control antibody. The CNV lesions were evaluated on flat mounts and serial sections after 14 days, by immunostaining for endothelial, inflammatory and smooth muscle cells cells (CD31, F4/80 and alfa-SMA respectively). Presence of edema was checked by measuring the BC ratio. Combination therapy of anti-PlGF and anti-VEGFR2 to lower the number of intravitreal injections was done.
Results	Anti-PlGF or anti-VEGFR2 comparably inhibited CNV by ± 50%. Moreover, a combination treatment of the optimal dose of anti-PlGF and a lower dose of anti-VEGFR2 further suppressed CNV to ± 70%, allowing reducing the dose of anti-VEGFR2 by fourfold. Edema was lowered in eyes treated with anti-PlGF whereas not with anti-VEGFR2. Combination therapy of both antibodies led to not only lower dosing of anti-VEGFR2 but also lower number of injections.
Conclusion	Anti-PlGF treatment inhibits CNV formation in a mouse model of AMD, and enhances the efficacy of anti-VEGFR-2, allowing the dose and amount of anti-VEGF therapy to be lowered and the potential adverse effects to be minimized. Moreover and contrary to anti-VEGFR2, anti-PlGF lowers the invalidating edema present in CNV.

Author 1

Last name	VAN DE VEIRE
Initials	S
Department	KUL
City	Leuven

Author 2

Last name	Vinores
Initials	S
Department	John Hopkins
City	Baltimore

Author 3

Last name	Van Bergen
Initials	T
Department	KUL
City	Leuven

Author 4

Last name	Mazzone
Initials	M
Department	KUL
City	Leuven

Author 5

Last name	Moons
Initials	L
Department	KUL
City	Leuven

Author 6

Last name	Carmeliet
Initials	P
Department	KUL
City	Leuven

Author 7

Last name	Stalmans
Initials	I
Department	KUL
City	Leuven