Eighteen-month follow-up of intravitreal bevacizumab in type 2 idiopathic macular telangiectasia.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of intravitreal bevacizumab for non-proliferative type 2 idiopathic macular telangiectasia (type 2 IMT) within a mean follow-up period of 18 months.


METHODS
The authors retrospectively studied six eyes of five patients with type 2 IMT who received two doses of intravitreal bevacizumab (1.5 mg) at a 4-week interval, followed by further applications depending on disease activity. Examinations included biomicroscopy, standardised visual acuity (VA) testing, fluorescein angiography, retinal thickness analysis by optical coherence tomography and fundus-controlled microperimetry.


RESULTS
Mean follow-up time was 18 months (range 16-21 months). The mean VA at four selected time points (1 month after second treatment, 1 month and 3-4 months after last treatment, and at last visit) increased significantly (by 8.8, 6.3, 7.7 and 8.7 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters, respectively; all p<or=0.05). Parafoveal leakage in fluorescein angiography and mean central retinal thickness decreased in all eyes following treatment. A rebound effect was observed after 3-4 months, and at the last visit, retinal thickness was increased in selected retinal sectors including the fellow eye.


CONCLUSIONS
Inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by intravitreally injected bevacizumab may lead to functional improvement as well as a transient decrease in leakage and retinal thickness in patients with type 2 IMT. A VEGF-mediated active disease stage in which treatment might be most effective is discussed.
Charbel Issa
P
P
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn, Ernst-Abbe-Str 2, D-53127 Bonn, Germany.
Finger
R P
RP
Holz
F G
FG
Scholl
H P N
HP
D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000187:drug effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013684:Telangiectasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab