[Treatment of age-related macular degeneration with intravitreous injections of bevacizumab (Avastin): short-term results].
OBJECTIVE
To analyse short term visual outcomes and macular morphologic changes associated with intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (Avastin) therapy for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) METHOD: Retrospective study of 59 eyes. Each included eye received 3 intravitreal injections of 1.25 mg bevacizumab at 4 to 6-week intervals. Mean follow-up was 5.5 months (range 3 to 9). Best-corrected visual acuity, ophthalmoscopic examination, optic coherence tomography and fluorescein or green indocyanin angiography were performed before and routinely after the treatment.


RESULTS
A total of 160 injections were performed with a mean value of 2.7 (1-6) per eye. Visual acuity improved at least two lines in 17% (10 eyes), worsened at least two lines in 14% (8 eyes) and was stabilized in 69% (41 eyes). Among that last group of 41 eyes, a significative reduction of macular thickness was observed in more than 39% (12 eyes) and a subjective improvement with less metamorphopsia and better visual comfort was noticed in 24% (10 eyes). No intraocular or systemic adverse effects were observed except a self-limited iritis in two cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Intravitreal bevacizumab therapy resulted in visual and morphologic improvements in a significant number of cases of advanced AMD with CNV. Randomized studies and longer follow-up are needed to confirm these preliminary results.
De Clercq
C
C
Unité de Rétine Médicale, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, U.C.L., Av. Hippocrate 10, 1200 Bruxelles. C_DECLERCQ_MD@yahoo.fr
Snyers
B
B
Guagnini
A P
AP
Kozyreff
A
A
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab