Retinal angiomatous proliferation and intravitreal bevacizumab injection.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the short-term efficacy and safety of intravitreal bevacizumab injection (IVBI) in patients with retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP).


METHODS
Seven eyes of 5 patients with RAP were included in this study. All of the eyes evidenced stage 2 RAP lesions, except for one eye with a stage 3 lesion. IVBI (1.25 mg/0.05 cc) were conducted at 4 or 6-week intervals. Complete ocular examinations, angiographic results and optical coherence tomographic findings before and after the IVBI were analyzed at baseline and upon the follow-up visits.


RESULTS
Seven eyes were studied in 5 patients who had undergone IVBI. Partial (3 eyes) or complete (4 eyes) regression of RAP was noted after IVBI in all of the studied eyes. Visual acuity improved in 5 of the eyes, and was stable in 2 of the eyes. One eye evidenced severe intraocular inflammation after IVBI and a subsequent development of new RAP, which was controlled with vitrectomy and repeat IVBI.


CONCLUSIONS
This treatment was effective over 6 months, stabilizing or improving visual acuity and reducing angiographic leakage. These short-term results suggest that IVBI may constitute a promising therapeutic option, particularly in the early stages of RAP.
Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, College of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Korea.
Jae Hoon
JH
Kang
Kyung Ah
KA
Park
Song Ee
SE
Chung
Se Woong
SW
Kang
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D014792:Visual Acuity; D018630:Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D014822:Vitreous Body
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab