title: Choroidal neovascularization in pathologic myopia: intravitreal ranibizumab versus bevacizumab--a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the short-term efficacy and safety of intravitreal ranibizumab versus bevacizumab in treating myopic choroidal neovascularization (CNV).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, comparative, randomized, interventional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two eyes from 32 patients with myopic CNV were consecutively enrolled and randomly treated, in a 1:1 ratio, with intravitreal ranibizumab (0.5 mg) or bevacizumab (1.25 mg) as needed, after the first injection. ETDRS best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), foveal center thickness (FCT) on optical coherence tomography (OCT), and fluorescein angiographic findings were examined before and after treatment. Patients were followed up for 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistically significant difference in the BCVA improvement, as well as in the FCT reduction, was found between groups during follow-up (P value at 1, 3, 6 months > .05). Complete resolution of fluorescein leakage was observed in all 16 bevacizumab-treated eyes and in 15 out of 16 (93.7%) ranibizumab-treated eyes. No ocular or systemic adverse effects from treatment were encountered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This randomized clinical study cannot determine a statistically significant difference in anti-VEGF treatment effect between ranibizumab and bevacizumab for the treatment of CNV secondary to pathologic myopia. A larger study is required to determine the relative efficacy and duration of action of these drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. magda.gharbiya@tiscali.it
authors.forename: Magda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gharbiya
authors.forename: Rosalia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giustolisi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Allievi
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fantozzi
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mazzeo
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Scavella
authors.forename: Corrado Balacco
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Gabrieli
mesh_terms: 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 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005584:Fovea Centralis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D047728:Myopia, Degenerative / Q000150:complications*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000069579:Ranibizumab; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects; D014822:Vitreous Body
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D000069579:Ranibizumab