Subconjunctival bevacizumab injection for corneal neovascularization.
OBJECTIVE
To report on the clinical use of subconjunctival bevacizumab in patients with corneal neovascularization.


METHODS
The charts of 10 consecutive patients with corneal neovascularization who received subconjunctival injections of bevacizumab (2.5 mg/0.1 mL) were reviewed. Digital photographs of the cornea were graded by 2 masked observers for density, extent, and centricity of corneal vascularization. Image analysis was used to determine the area of cornea covered by neovascularization as a percentage of the total corneal area.


RESULTS
No significant ocular or systemic adverse events were observed during 3.5 +/- 1.1 months of follow-up. Seven patients showed partial regression of vessels. The extent decreased from 6.0 +/- 1.2 (SD) clock hours before the injection to 4.6 +/- 1.0 clock hours after bevacizumab injection (P = 0.008). Density decreased from 2.7 +/- 0.2 to 1.9 +/- 0.3, respectively. (P = 0.007). No change was noticed in the centricity of corneal vessels. Corneal neovascularization covered, on average, 14.8% +/- 2.5% (SD) of the corneal surface before the injections, compared with 10.5% +/- 2.8% (P = 0.36, t test) after bevacizumab injection. Therefore, bevacizumab decreased corneal neovascularization by 29%.


CONCLUSIONS
Short-term results suggest that subconjunctival bevacizumab is well tolerated and associated with a partial regression of corneal neovascularization.
Bahar
Irit
I
Department of Ophthalmology, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. iritbahar@yahoo.com
Kaiserman
Igor
I
McAllum
Penny
P
Rootman
David
D
Slomovic
Allan
A
D000328:Adult; 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; D003228:Conjunctiva; D003315:Cornea / Q000098:blood supply; D016510:Corneal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab