Non-responders to bevacizumab (Avastin) therapy of choroidal neovascular lesions.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the characteristics of "non-responders" to intravitreal bevacizumab treatment in choroidal neovascularisation (CNV).


METHODS
Forty-three patients with visual loss due to neovascular age-related macular disease (ARMD) (44 eyes) underwent intravitreal injections of 1.25 mg (0.05 ml) bevacizumab and were followed up every 4 weeks for 2, 3 or 6 months. Re-injection was performed when persistent leakage of the CNV was determined by fluorescein angiography and retinal oedema was assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT). Non-responders were defined as those patients having reduced or stable visual acuity at the last follow-up.


RESULTS
45% of the patients were non-responders. In this group the initial CNV size was significantly larger than in the responders. Initial reading ability was significantly lower in non-responders, but the initial foveal oedema was similar in both groups. Gains in mean visual acuity and reading ability were independent of lesion type. The proportion of non-responders to responders in the different lesion type groups was equally distributed. Only patients with the classic type of CNV seemed to respond better.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study initial reasons for non-responders to intravitreal bevacizumab treatment in CNV are given. The efficiency of bevacizumab depends on initial lesion size and initial reading ability, but is independent of the amount of intraretinal and subretinal fluid. There was no general ineffectiveness of bevacizumab with any particular lesion type.
Lux
Anja
A
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Düsseldorf, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
Llacer
Helene
H
Heussen
Florian M A
FM
Joussen
Antonia M
AM
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004487:Edema / Q000473:pathology; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography / Q000379:methods; D005584:Fovea Centralis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011932:Reading; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab