title: A study comparing two protocols of treatment with intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare two treatment options for choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD): (1) bevacizumab administered once a month for 3 months and thereafter as needed (loading dose (LD)); and (2) bevacizumab administered as needed, after the first injection (pro re nata (as needed) (PRN)).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty consecutive patients were enrolled in this prospective study. The first 25 patients were included in the LD group and the last 25 patients in the PRN group. In both groups, the need for re-treatment was based on the presence of persistent or recurrent macular oedema, subretinal fluid or pigment epithelial detachment on optical coherence tomography scans.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the 6-month follow-up, mean visual acuity improved by 13.7 letters (p<0.001) in the LD group and 4.6 in the PRN group (p<0.001). Thirty-six per cent of patients in the LD group compared with 12% in the PRN group gained 15 or more letters (p = 0.04). Mean foveal thickness decreased by 91.3 microm (p<0.001) in the LD group and 48.2 microm in the PRN group (p<0.001). No ocular or systemic side effects were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with CNV secondary to AMD treated with a LD protocol had better results than patients treated with a PRN protocol with intravitreal bevacizumab.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, C/Feixa Llarga, sn, 08907-L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. luisarias@telefonica.net
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arias
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Caminal
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Casas
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Masuet
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Badia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rubio
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pujol
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arruga
mesh_terms: 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* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography / Q000379:methods; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005584:Fovea Centralis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects*; D014822:Vitreous Body
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab