title: Effect of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) in neovascular age-related macular degeneration using a treatment regimen based on optical coherence tomography: 6- and 12-month results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of intravitreal bevacizumab therapy on visual and anatomical outcomes in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) within a follow-up period of 6 and 12 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of 102 eyes of 102 consecutive patients with neovascular AMD evaluated repeated intravitreal bevacizumab (1 or 2.5 mg) injections. Retreatment was performed following an optical coherence tomography (OCT)-based regimen. Ophthalmic examination included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), dilated fundus examination and OCT imaging. Data were analysed at baseline, 6 months (24 weeks) and 12 months (48 weeks) after treatment initiation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BCVA remained stable at 6 months (mean: 0.00+/-0.41 logMAR; p=0.95) and 12 months (mean: +0.02+/-0.43 logMAR; loss of approximately 1 letter; p=0.70) after the first treatment. OCT retinal thickness decreased by a mean of -37.8+/-101.6 microm (p<0.05) compared to baseline at month 6 and -38.6+/-93.3 microm (p<0.05) at month 12. A mean of 2.6+/-1.2 injections were needed to obtain absence of fluid by OCT, and the time to recurrence was 23+/-11 weeks thereafter. There was no difference in BCVA and OCT outcomes between treatment-naive eyes and eyes that had undergone prior treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 6- and 12-month follow-up of repeated intravitreal bevacizumab therapy in eyes with neovascular AMD demonstrated stabilization of vision and no safety concerns. An OCT-based retreatment strategy appears appropriate in the management of patients treated with intravitreal bevacizumab.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leydolt
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Michels
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Prager
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garhoefer
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Georgopoulos
authors.forename: Kaija
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Polak
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schmidt-Erfurth
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019233:Retreatment; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D014822:Vitreous Body
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab