Some have speculated that the anti-VEGF injections we give to macular degeneration patients may get into the bloodstream and have adverse vascular effects. According to a recently released retrospective study (appearing in the October 2010 issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology), using vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) blockers to treat neovascular age-related macular degeneration does not appear to increase the risk of serious cardiovascular events.

Specifically, patients who were treated with ranibizumab (Lucentis) had a significantly lower risk of death through one year than those treated with photodynamic therapy or pegaptanib (Macugen). Ranibizumab-treated patients also had a lower risk of MI than those treated with photodynamic therapy.

Patients treated off-label with bevacizumab (Avastin), carried risks of death, MI, stroke, and bleeding similar to those of patients treated with photodynamic therapy or pegaptanib.

Read more ^[1] about the study on MedPage Today.