Efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) for short-term treatment of diabetic macular edema.
OBJECTIVE
To report the efficacy of intravitreal injections of bevacizumab for diabetic macular edema (DME) in the short-term.


METHODS
Retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series.


METHODS
Medical records of 20 eyes of 19 patients who underwent intravitreal injections of bevacizumab for persistent diabetic macular edema were reviewed retrospectively. All eyes received intravitreal injections of bevacizumab (1.25 mg/0.05 ml). The clinical course of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) using a logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution chart, and averaged foveal retinal thickness using an optical coherence tomography (OCT) were monitored for up to four weeks after the injection.


RESULTS
BCVA at one week improved by two lines or more in six eyes (30%) and in nine eyes (45%) at four weeks. However, no significant improvement in the mean BCVA from baseline was observed at one week (P>0.05) and four weeks (P>0.05). Mean retinal thicknesses (RT) were 411+/-170 mum at baseline, 349+/-102 microm at one week after the injection (P<0.05), and 380+/-159 microm at four weeks (P>0.05). One week after the injection, significant regression of macular edema was seen. However, recurrence occurred at four weeks. No complications such as severe vision loss, endophthalmitis, or systemic events developed.


CONCLUSIONS
No changes in BCVA and RT were observed in the short-term observation after the intravitreal injection of bevacizumab for DME.
Nagasawa
Toshihiko
T
Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Health Biosciences, the University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan.
Naito
Takeshi
T
Matsushita
Shingo
S
Sato
Hiroyuki
H
Katome
Takashi
T
Shiota
Hiroshi
H
D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects; D014822:Vitreous Body
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab