title: Short-term safety and efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech Inc.) for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (ARMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was performed on consented patients with neovascular ARMD receiving intravitreal bevacizumab therapy. All patients received intravitreal bevacizumab at baseline with additional monthly injections given at the discretion of the treating physician. At each visit, a routine Snellen visual acuity assessment was performed followed by an ophthalmic examination and optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-three eyes of 50 patients received an intravitreal bevacizumab injection between May and August 2005. Including the month 3 visit, the average number of injections was 2.3 out of a maximum of 4 injections. No serious drug-related ocular or systemic adverse events were identified. Improvements in visual acuity and central retinal thickness measurements were evident by week 1 and continued through month 3. At month 3, the mean visual acuity improved from 20/160 to 20/125 (P < 0.001) and the mean central retinal thickness decreased by 99.6 microm (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Off-label intravitreal bevacizumab therapy for neovascular ARMD was well tolerated over 3 months with improvements in visual acuity and OCT central retinal thickness measurements. While the long-term safety and efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab remain unknown, these short-term results suggest that intravitreal bevacizumab may be the most cost effective therapy for the treatment of neovascular ARMD.
authors.affiliation: Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami School of Medicine, FL 33136, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Rich
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Rosenfeld
authors.forename: Carmen A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Puliafito
authors.forename: Sander R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Dubovy
authors.forename: Janet L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Harry W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Flynn
authors.forename: Serafin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Feuer
authors.forename: Richard C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Geeta A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Lalwani
authors.forename: Jackie K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Gaurav
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology; D019233:Retreatment; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014822:Vitreous Body
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab