title: Comparison of intravitreal bevacizumab followed by ranibizumab for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare outcomes after switching from intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) to ranibizumab (Lucentis) in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was performed of patients with neovascular AMD who were switched from treatment with intravitreal bevacizumab to intravitreal ranibizumab once ranibizumab became commercially available. All reviewed patients had at least three bevacizumab injections before being switched to ranibizumab. The treatment outcomes included comparisons of visual acuity and dosing frequency while receiving both drugs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-four eyes met the inclusion criteria. Mean baseline visual acuity was 20/100. Mean duration of bevacizumab treatment was 7.1 months followed by 7.3 months with ranibizumab (P = 0.68). Best-obtained visual acuity during treatment was 20/63 with bevacizumab and 20/63 with ranibizumab (P = 0.5). Last mean visual acuity after receiving bevacizumab at the time of the first ranibizumab injection was 20/80. Mean visual acuity at the last ranibizumab follow-up visit was 20/80 (P = 0.49). Mean injection rates per month while receiving bevacizumab and ranibizumab were 0.66 (P = 0.98).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this subset of patients with neovascular AMD switched from bevacizumab to ranibizumab therapy, there were no apparent differences in visual acuity outcomes or injection rates. Larger prospective studies are under way to directly compare these drugs for the treatment of neovascular AMD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33136, USA.
authors.forename: Kimberly E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Stepien
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Rosenfeld
authors.forename: Carmen A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Puliafito
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Feuer
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Luma
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Al-Attar
authors.forename: Sander R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Dubovy
authors.forename: Timothy G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Janet L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Wen-Hsiang
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Stephen G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Smiddy
authors.forename: Audina M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Berrocal
authors.forename: Harry W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Flynn
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000069579:Ranibizumab; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D000069579:Ranibizumab