Intravitreal bevacizumab for neovascular age-related macular degeneration with or without prior treatment with photodynamic therapy: one-year results.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effect of prior photodynamic therapy (PDT) on the efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration.


METHODS
One hundred and nine eyes of 102 patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration were evaluated-80 eyes without prior treatment (group 1) and 29 with prior PDT (group 2). Best-corrected visual acuity, ocular coherence tomography, and funduscopy were assessed monthly. Results were evaluated at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months.


RESULTS
One hundred and one eyes completed a 12-month evaluation. At 12 months, best-corrected visual acuity increased 5.6 letters with treatment (P = 0.001): +5.7 letters in group 1 and +5.4 in group 2 (P = 0.92). Overall, visual acuity improved > or =15 letters in 22.5% of eyes: 24.0% of naive eyes versus 18.5% with prior PDT (P = 0.56). Best-corrected visual acuity loss > or =15 letters occurred in 6 eyes, 5 with naive lesions. An overall reduction in ocular coherence tomography central retinal thickness was observed at all time points. Mean number of injections per eye per year was 5.6, 6.13 in group 1 versus 4.22 in group 2 (P = 0.01). Two retinal pigment epithelial tears, one subretinal macular hemorrhage, and two strokes occurred in naive lesions.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors showed similar efficacy for intravitreal bevacizumab independently of prior PDT treatment. Eyes with prior PDT needed a statistically significantly lower number of injections to control their lesions.
Carneiro
Angela M
AM
Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital São João, Porto, Portugal. angelacarneiro@netcabo.pt
Falcão
Manuel S
MS
Brandão
Elisete M
EM
Falcão-Reis
Fernando M
FM
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; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D011446:Prospective 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
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab