Preferable use of intravitreal bevacizumab as a pretreatment of vitrectomy for severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravitreal injection of bevacizumab advanced to vitrectomy for severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy.


METHODS
Eight eyes of six patients (33-64 years old, all male patients) with severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy were investigated. An intravitreal injection of 1.25 mg bevacizumab was performed 3-30 days prior to planned vitrectomy.


RESULTS
All cases showed minimum bleeding during surgical dissection of fibrovascular membrane. Two cases receiving bevacizumab 7 days before the surgery showed strong fibrosis and adhesion of fibrovascular membrane, resulted in some surgical complications. The cases having intravitreal bevacizumab for shorter time did not show extensive fibrosis.


CONCLUSIONS
The pretreatment of bevacizumab is likely effective in the vitrectomy for severe PDR. The appropriate timing of vitrectomy after bevacizumab injection should be further evaluated.
Ishikawa
K
K
Department of Surgery, Division of Ophthalmology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Japan.
Honda
S
S
Tsukahara
Y
Y
Negi
A
A
D000328:Adult; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000379:methods*
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab