title: Randomised clinical trial of intravitreal Avastin vs photodynamic therapy and intravitreal triamcinolone: long-term results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare 1-year functional and anatomic outcomes of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) and photodynamic therapy plus intravitreal triamcinolone (PDT+IVTA) combination in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective, randomised, controlled clinical trial, 28 patients were included. All patients were randomised 1 : 1 to 0.04 ml/1 mg of IVB or PDT plus same day 0.1 ml/4 mg IVTA (PDT+IVTA). Follow-up examinations were performed in monthly intervals in IVB group and every 3 months in PDT+IVTA group. Main outcomes were change in mean visual acuity (VA), mean central retinal thickness (CRT) and the mean number of treatments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At month 12, mean VA improved to a 1.5-line gain in IVB group, and lost three letters in PDT+IVTA group (P=0.02). Mean CRT was reduced from 357 microm at baseline to 244 microm at month 12 in IVB group and from 326 microm to 254 microm, respectively, in PDT+IVTA group (P=0.8). The mean number of treatments was 6.8 in the IVB group vs 1.9 in the PDT+IVTA group. No significant local or systemic safety concerns were detected during follow-up time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients treated with IVB showed a significant better VA outcome compared with the PDT+IVTA group despite the fact that both modalities showed equal potency in reducing CRT during a 12-month period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. stefan.sacu@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sacu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Michels
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Prager
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Weigert
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dunavoelgyi
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Geitzenauer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pruente
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schmidt-Erfurth
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014221:Triamcinolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D014221:Triamcinolone; D000068258:Bevacizumab