INCIDENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF INTRAOCULAR INFLAMMATION AFTER BROLUCIZUMAB TREATMENT IN JAPAN

This Japanese retrospective multicenter study included 1,351 eyes with nAMD treated with brolucizumab. Cumulative incidence of IOI 1 year after the first injection was 12.2%. History of inflammation and/or retinal vascular occlusion and female sex were significant risk factors. Purpose:To investigate the incidence of intraocular inflammation (IOI) and its risk factors following intravitreal injections of brolucizumab for neovascular age-related macular degeneration in Japan.Methods:A total of 1,351 Japanese consecutive patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration who were treated with brolucizumab from May 2020 to May 2022 at 14 institutions were examined. The variables analyzed were the number of brolucizumab injections, time to onset of IOI, and risk factors.Results:Intraocular inflammation developed in 152 eyes (11.3%). Retinal vasculitis and/or retinal occlusion occurred in 53 eyes (3.9%). Ninety-four patients received bilaterally, bilateral IOI occurred in five patients (5.3%). Sixteen eyes (1.2%) had irreversible visual acuity loss and nine eyes (0.67%) had visual loss of three lines or more due to retinal vasculitis and/or retinal occlusion. The cumulative IOI incidence was 4.5%, 10.3%, and 12.2% at 30, 180, and 365 days (1-year), respectively. History of IOI (including retinal vasculitis) and/or retinal occlusion (odds ratio [OR], 5.41; P = 0.0075) and female sex (OR, 1.99; P = 0.0004) were significantly associated with IOI onset.Conclusion:The 1-year cumulative incidence of IOI in Japanese neovascular age-related macular degeneration patients treated with brolucizumab was 12.2%. History of IOI (including retinal vasculitis) and/or retinal occlusion and female sex were significant risk factors.