Combined treatment of acute subretinal haemorrhages with intravitreal recombined tissue plasminogen activator, expansile gas and bevacizumab: a retrospective pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness of consecutive intravitreal injections of recombined tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA), expansile gas and bevacizumab in eyes with acute subretinal haemorrhage (SRH).


METHODS
A retrospective, non-randomized consecutive case series included 19 eyes in 19 patients with SRH related to exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The initial size of the subfoveal SRH was 1-3 disc diameters. Each patient received a triple procedure using 0.05 ml rtPA (50 microg), 0.3 ml of sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) gas and 0.05 ml bevacizumab (1.25 mg). Lesion size, location of the SRH and early treatment in diabetic retinopathy study (ETDRS) visual acuity were evaluated pretreatment as well as 1 and 3 months after the procedure.


RESULTS
At the initial presentation, the patients' mean age was 77 years (range 63-88 years) and the mean duration of symptoms was 9.3 days (range 4-12 days). The mean visual acuity pretreatment (20/133) improved significantly to 20/86 at 1 month and to 20/74 at 3 months. The mean ETDRS visual acuity improved from baseline by 2.1 lines at 1 month (Wilcoxon ranks test; P < 0.005) and 3.7 lines at 3 months after treatment (Wilcoxon ranks test; P < 0.005). None of our patients had reading visual acuity prior to treatment, with visual acuity below 0.3. One month after the triple procedure, 25% of our patients had reading visual acuity (> or = 0.4); at 3 months, the figure was 35%. A successful inferior displacement of the SRH was achieved in 17/19 eyes. Eyes with elevated intraocular pressure were treated immediately by a corneal paracentesis.


CONCLUSIONS
The intravitreal application of rtPA, gas and bevacizumab appears to be beneficial and well tolerated in the treatment of SRH in the short term. The triple approach seems a logical alternative to the current combined dual approach in limiting the progression of the underlying disease and achieving better visual outcome. Further randomized evaluations are warranted.
Meyer
Carsten H
CH
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn, Germany. meyer_eye@yahoo.com
Scholl
Hendrik P
HP
Eter
Nicole
N
Helb
Hans-Martin
HM
Holz
Frank G
FG
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016684:Prone Position; D012166:Retinal Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D014822:Vitreous Body
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride