title: Development of vitreous haemorrhage during treatment with bevacizumab for metastatic rectal cancer.
abstract: Bevacizumab is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody with activity against vascular endothelial growth factor used in the treatment of various cancers. This case report describes a 68-year-old [corrected] male with rectal cancer who developed a vitreous haemorrhage during treatment with bevacizumab. After vitrectomy the vitreous haemorrhage subsided and visual acuity was restored. The patient had evidence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which may have induced the development of vitreous haemorrhage. This implies that AMD might serve as a risk factor for vitreous haemorrhage in cancer patients treated with systemic bevacizumab. Ophthalmological examination to identify AMD lesions may be necessary prior to administration of bevacizumab. Vitrectomy could serve as a management tool for bevacizumab-associated vitreous haemorrhage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Gwo-Che
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Lee-Jen
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hung-Chang
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yu-Jen
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D014148:Tranexamic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014821:Vitrectomy; D014823:Vitreous Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D014148:Tranexamic Acid