Treatment of central retinal vein occlusion-related macular edema with intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin): preliminary results.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the safety and efficacy of treatment of macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) with intravitreal bevacizumab.


METHODS
The ongoing prospective study included 8 consecutive patients (8 eyes) with macular edema secondary to CRVO (6 non ischemic and 2 ischemic), treated with intravitreal injection of 1.25 mg (0.05 mL) of bevacizumab. Main outcome was best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central foveal thickness (CFT) measured by optical coherence tomography monthly during one year. Retreatment criteria include decrease of BCVA, persistence of macular edema on angiograms and increase of CFT.


RESULTS
Mean age of the eight patients was 68 years (range: 50-82 years). Mean duration of symptoms before injection was 98 days (range: 3-289). Mean follow-up was 3.25 months. At baseline, mean BCVA was 0.84 logMar and mean baseline CFT was 771 microm. Mean BCVA was 0.36 and mean CFT thickness was 275 microm (n = 8) at month 1, 0.41 and 411 microm at month 2 (n = 7), 0.3 and 344 microm at month 3 (n = 6), 0.3 and 397 microm at month 4 (n = 5), respectively. In 75 % of patients, a single injection was not sufficient, and retreatment needed. No serious adverse events were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment of macular edema secondary to CRVO with intravitreal bevacizumab injection of 1.25 mg was well tolerated and associated with marked macular thickness reduction and BCVA improvement in all patients. A trend towards reduction of foveal thickness and improvement of visual acuity was observed in both acute and chronic CRVO.
Pournaras
J-A C
JA
Jules Gonin Eye Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Nguyen
C
C
Vaudaux
J D
JD
Konstantinidis
L
L
Ambresin
A
A
Wolfensberger
T
T
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; D006801:Humans; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab