Outcome of bevacizumab (Avastin) injection in patients with age-related macular degeneration and low visual acuity.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of intravitreal bevacizumab for the treatment of long-standing exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and low visual acuity.


METHODS
Forty-seven patients (48 eyes) aged 57 to 90 years with AMD for 5 months or more and visual acuity of 20/150 or less were treated with one or more injections of bevacizumab 1.25 mg/0.05 mL between December 2005 and March 2007. The files were reviewed for background data, visual acuity, fluorescein angiography, retinal thickness, and complications.


RESULTS
Thirty-two eyes were treated previously with photodynamic therapy. Mean duration of symptoms was 17.9 +/- 17.5 months; mean number of bevacizumab injections was 3.41 +/- 2; and mean follow-up was 27 +/- 15 weeks. Snellen visual acuity improved from 20/150 to hand movements (mean logMAR 1.34 +/- 0.29) to 20/50 to counting fingers (mean logMar 1.2 +/- 0.42) (P = 0.003, paired t-test). Visual acuity improved by> or =3 lines in 12 eyes (25%); showed no change in 9 eyes (19%); and deteriorated by > or =3 lines in 4 eyes (8.3%). Visual acuity was at least 20/150 in 16 eyes (33.3%) at the end of follow-up compared with 4 eyes (8.3%) before treatment (P = 0.02, McNemar test). Mean central retinal thickness (measured in 22 eyes) decreased from 324 +/- 121 mum to 264 +/- 65 mum (P = 0.02, paired t-test).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with chronic exudative AMD and low visual acuity may benefit from intravitreal bevacizumab injections.
Ehrlich
Rita
R
Department of Ophthalmology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tiqwa, Israel.
Weinberger
Dov
D
Priel
Ethan
E
Axer-Siegel
Ruth
R
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects; D014822:Vitreous Body
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab