[OCT-guided reinjection of 2.5 mg bevacizumab for treating macular edema due to retinal vein occlusion].
BACKGROUND
Macular edema (ME) due to retinal vein occlusion can be successfully treated with intravitreal bevacizumab therapy. There is no common recommendation concerning time intervals and criteria for reinjection.


METHODS
Sixty-three patients (follow-up 30+/-18 weeks) received intravitreal injections of 2.5 mg bevacizumab. Reinjection was performed only if optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed persistent or recurrent ME. Check-ups were performed every 6-8 weeks.


RESULTS
There was complete resolution of macular edema in 31 patients after the first injection (improvement in visual acuity 3.7+/-3.7 lines); 65.2% of these patients developed recurrence of ME within 13.3+/-4.4 weeks, which completely resolved again after a second injection. Visual acuity gained the same level as after the first injection. Another relapse of ME in this group occurred in 69% of patients after another 13.4+/-5.4 weeks. Patients with persistent ME after the first injection (n=32) received a second injection, initially leading to resolution of ME in 33.3%, but all of these patients had a relapse within 13.9+/-4.1 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
OCT-guided reinjection leads to anatomic and functional stabilization or improvement even if transient recurrence of ME occurs.
Höh
A E
AE
Schwerpunkt Retinologie, Universitäts-Augenklinik, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120 Heidelberg.
Schaal
K B
KB
Scheuerle
A
A
Schütt
F
F
Dithmar
S
S
D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D019233:Retreatment; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects; D014822:Vitreous Body
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab