title: Treatment of branch retinal vein occlusion induced macular edema with bevacizumab.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Branch retinal vein occlusion is a frequent cause of visual loss with currently insufficient treatment options. We evaluate the effect of Bevacizumab (Avastin) treatment in patients with macular edema induced by branch retinal vein occlusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of 32 eyes in 32 patients with fluorescein angiography proven branch retinal vein occlusion, macular edema and Bevacizumab treatment. Outcome measures were best corrected visual acuity in logMAR and central retinal thickness in OCT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Visual acuity was significantly better 4 to 6 weeks after Bevacizumab treatment compared to visual acuity prior to treatment (before 0.7 +/- 0.3 and after 0.5 +/- 0.3; mean +/- standard deviation; p < 0.01, paired t-test). Gain in visual acuity was accompanied by a significant decrease in retinal thickness (454 +/- 117 to 305 +/- 129 microm, p < 0.01, paired t-test). Follow up (170, 27 - 418 days; median, range) shows that improvement for both visual acuity and retinal thickness last for several months after Bevacizumab use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We present evidence that intravitreal Bevacizumab is an effective and lasting treatment for macular edema after branch retinal vein occlusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Switzerland. mhabegg@hispeed.ch
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abegg
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tappeiner
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wolf-Schnurrbusch
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barthelmes
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fleischhauer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects; D014822:Vitreous Body
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab