[OCT-based re-injections for anti-VEGF-treatment for neovascular ARMD].
BACKGROUND
We present an optical coherence tomography (OCT)-based individual reinjection procedure for bevacizumab treatment in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (ARMD).


METHODS
Thirty-two patients with active subfoveal occult choroidal neovascularisation in ARMD received a single intravitreal injection of 1.25 mg bevacizumab and were reinjected based on new or persisting subretinal or intraretinal fluid on OCT. Patient visits were every 6-8 weeks.


RESULTS
After a single injection, 74% of patients demonstrated complete retinal fluid absorption, with 44% of patients showing no relapse during a follow-up of 30+/-13 weeks. Fifty-six percent of patients required a second injection after a mean of 19+/-8 weeks, with 82% of patients showing absorption of macular fluid thereafter with regain of their previous achieved best-corrected visual acuity. Thirty-two percent did not require any further injection (follow-up 32+/-12 weeks). Of those patients not showing retinal fluid absorption after the first injection (26%), 44% demonstrated retinal fluid absorption after the second injection. All patients achieved stabilisation of visual acuity during follow-up, with 30% of patients showing a significant gain of >or=3 lines.


CONCLUSIONS
OCT-based reinjections of bevacizumab in neovascular ARMD reduce the number of injections and lead to anatomic and functional retinal stabilisation.
Schaal
K B
KB
Universitäts-Augenklinik Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Deutschland.
Höh
A E
AE
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; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional / Q000379:methods; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab