title: Pattern electroretinographic results after photodynamic therapy alone and photodynamic therapy in combination with intravitreal bevacizumab for choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the changes in pattern electroretinography (PERG) 1 month after photodynamic therapy alone and photodynamic therapy in combination with intravitreal bevacizumab for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a prospective series of 45 eyes with subfoveal CNV secondary to AMD. Twenty eyes were treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin and 1.25 mg of intravitreal bevacizumab, and 25 patients were treated with PDT alone. Visual acuities and serial PERG recordings were performed both before and 1 month after therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following the 1-month therapy period, visual acuity improved in 56% of patients in the PDT group and 76% of patients in the combination group. No significant ocular or systemic adverse effects were observed in either group. According to the PERG results, the mean P50 amplitude was 1.5 +/- 0.9 microV before PDT and improved to 2.1 +/- 1.1 microV at 1 month after PDT. The mean P50 amplitudes in the combination therapy group before and after therapy were 1.6 +/- 0.8 microV and 2.7 +/- 1.2 microV, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this small series of eyes with limited follow-up, the combined treatment of PDT with verteporfin and intravitreal bevacizumab seems to be associated with improvement in VA and pattern electroretinographic results when compared to those in the PDT group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey. aoner@erciyes.edu.tr
authors.forename: Ayse
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oner
authors.forename: Koray
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gumus
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arda
authors.forename: Yudum
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yuce
authors.forename: Sarper
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karakucuk
authors.forename: Ertugrul
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mirza
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; 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* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004596:Electroretinography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects; D014822:Vitreous Body
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab