One-year results after intravitreal bevacizumab therapy for macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion.
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.
Jaissle
Gesine B
GB
University Eye Clinic, Centre for Ophthalmology, Eberhard-Karls University of Tuebingen, Schleichstr. 12, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany. gesine.jaissle@googlemail.com
Leitritz
Martin
M
Gelisken
Faik
F
Ziemssen
Focke
F
Bartz-Schmidt
Karl Ulrich
KU
Szurman
Peter
P
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
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab