title: Combined intravitreal bevacizumab and photodynamic therapy for retinal angiomatous proliferation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To clarify the efficiency of combined therapy with intravitreal bevacizumab injections and photodynamic therapy (PDT) in patients with retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective, observational, consecutive case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed 11 consecutive eyes with RAP (10 patients; six men, four women) treated with intravitreal bevacizumab injection and PDT. Patients ranged in age from 63 to 89 years old (average, 79 years). No patients had undergone previous treatment, and patients were followed for at least six months. PDT was applied one or two days after the intravitreal bevacizumab (1.25 mg) injection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) levels at baseline and one, three, and six months after treatment were 0.16, 0.27, 0.31, and 0.29, respectively. A significant improvement in the mean BCVA was observed one, three, and six months after intravitreal bevacizumab injection and PDT (P < .01). The mean improvement in BCVA six months from baseline was 2.64 lines. The BCVA at six months improved in six eyes (54.5%, improved by three lines or more) and was stable in five eyes (45.5%). No patient had a decrease in the BCVA of three or more lines during any six months. The central retinal thickness significantly decreased from 496 +/- 189 microm to 175 +/- 33 microm at six months (P < .001). No patients required retreatment during any six months. No complications such as severe vision loss, endophthalmitis, or systemic events developed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined intravitreal bevacizumab and PDT for RAP effectively maintained or improved VA and reduced or eliminated edema in the short-term.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan. smasaaki@fmu.ac.jp
authors: Masaaki
authors: M
authors: Saito
authors: Chieko
authors: C
authors: Shiragami
authors: Fumio
authors: F
authors: Shiraga
authors: Dai
authors: D
authors: Nagayama
authors: Tomohiro
authors: T
authors: Iida
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014822:Vitreous Body
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000077362:Verteporfin; D000068258:Bevacizumab