title: One-year results after intravitreal bevacizumab therapy for macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To investigate the long-term effectiveness of intravitreal bevacizumab treatment in eyes with perfused macular edema due to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective interventional case series, 23 consecutive, previously untreated eyes with perfused macular edema were treated with intravitreal bevacizumab (1.25 mg) injections and followed for 1 year. The main outcome measures were visual acuity (VA) and central retinal thickness (CRT). In addition, VA data were adapted to the non-logarithmic VA charts used in the previously published grid laser photocoagulation BRVO Study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median VA gained 3.0 lines from baseline at 48 weeks. This was accompanied by a significant decrease of 39% of the median CRT. The mean number of re-injections was 1.6 during the first 6 months of follow-up and only 0.8 during the subsequent 6 months. In 65% of the cases, adapted VA data showed a gain of 1 or more lines and no eye lost more than 1 line.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Repetitive intravitreal bevacizumab injections result in a significant long-term improvement of VA and CRT. The number of re-injections necessary to maintain this effect declined over time. However, the treatment seems to be only slightly better than grid laser photocoagulation.
authors.affiliation: University Eye Clinic, Centre for Ophthalmology, Eberhard-Karls University of Tuebingen, Schleichstr. 12, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany. gesine.jaissle@googlemail.com
authors.forename: Gesine B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Jaissle
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leitritz
authors.forename: Faik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gelisken
authors.forename: Focke
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ziemssen
authors.forename: Karl Ulrich
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Bartz-Schmidt
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Szurman
mesh_terms: 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; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014822:Vitreous Body
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab