title: Long-term control of choroidal neovascularisation secondary to angioid streaks treated with intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab (IB) in the long-term control of subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) associated with angioid streaks (AS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with unilateral active CNV associated with AS were enrolled. Exclusion criteria were previous treatment for CNV and comorbidity. Postoperative visual acuity was defined as a gain or loss of two or more lines of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Post-treatment CNV size was dichotomised into "increased," if the CNV area had grown by > or =200 microm(2), and "stable/reduced" if it had decreased by > or =200 microm(2) or had not changed by more than 200 microm(2). Patients were retreated if no further improvement or worsening was noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were five males and six females aged 33 to 58 years (mean 46.8 (SD 9.2)), who received a mean number of 3.5 (1.3) IB treatments (min: 2; max: 6). The mean retreatment interval was 3 (1.5) months (min: 1; max: 6). The mean follow-up duration was 23.8 (2.9) months. At 20 months all patients had stable/reduced CNV size and stable/improved BCVA. The mean BCVA rose significantly from 0.28 (0.2) at baseline to 0.56 (0.29) at 20 months (p<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IB is a promising tool for the long-term control of CNV in AS. Further studies are required to validate these findings.
authors.affiliation: The Eye Clinic, Ospedali Riuniti Umberto I-GM Lancisi-G. Salesi, Via Conca 71, Torrette-Ancona, Italy. doctor_blacks@hotmail.com
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salvolini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mariotti
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mercanti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Celani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giovannini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000793:Angioid Streaks / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab