Efficacy and safety of one intravitreal injection of bevacizumab in diabetic macular oedema.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy, duration of effect and safety of one intravitreal injection of bevacizumab in diabetic macular oedema (DMO).


METHODS
Bevacizumab (1 mg/0.04 ml) was injected intravitreally into eyes with DMO (29 with and nine without previous treatments). Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure and central retinal thickness (CRT) were measured; slit-lamp examination, macular biomicroscopy, optical coherence tomography and fluorescein angiography were performed before and at 2-4, 8 and 12 weeks post-injection. Best corrected VA and CRT were analysed in both groups.


RESULTS
In the non-pretreated group, mean BCVA improved from 0.76 +/- 0.33 (baseline) to 0.57 +/- 0.30 and 0.54 +/- 0.27 at 2-4 weeks and 8 weeks post-injection, respectively (p = 0.02, p = 0.014, paired t-test). Mean CRT decreased from 632.4 +/- 196.0 microm (baseline) to 392.3 +/- 113.6 microm and 370.4 +/- 141.7 microm at the same time-points, respectively (p = 0.01, p = 0.01). There was no difference in BCVA or CRT at 12 weeks. In the pretreated group, mean BCVA improved from 0.62 +/- 0.30 (baseline) to 0.53 +/- 0.33 at 2-4 weeks post-injection (p = 0.01), and mean CRT decreased from 583.9 +/- 180.7 microm (baseline) to 404.1 +/- 197.9 microm at 2-4 weeks post-injection (p < 0.001). Mean BCVA was unchanged at 8 weeks and 12 weeks post-injection, although mean CRT remained lower at 8 weeks (p = 0.004). No ocular or systemic side-effects developed during follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
One intravitreal injection of bevacizumab for DMO seems to be effective and safe in both eyes that have been treated previously and eyes that have not. The therapeutic effect is temporary and repeat treatment may be needed.
Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka University Medical School, Osaka, Japan.
Xiaoyun
X
Fang
Hirokazu
H
Sakaguchi
Fumi
F
Gomi
Yusuke
Y
Oshima
Miki
M
Sawa
Motokazu
M
Tsujikawa
Yasushi
Y
Ikuno
Motohiro
M
Kamei
Shunji
S
Kusaka
Yasuo
Y
Tano
D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects; D014822:Vitreous Body
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab