Results of 1-year follow-up examinations after intravitreal bevacizumab administration for idiopathic choroidal neovascularization.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to report the results of 1-year follow-up examinations after intravitreal bevacizumab injection for the treatment of idiopathic choroidal neovascularization.


METHODS
Seven eyes in 7 patients with idiopathic choroidal neovascularization were intravitreally injected with 1.25 mg/0.05 mL of bevacizumab. The need for retreatment was evaluated if spectral-domain optical coherence tomography showed intraretinal edema or subretinal fluid at the time of a 1-month follow-up examination. Fluorescein angiography was performed 1 year after the first injection. The primary outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity and central foveal thickness using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.


RESULTS
All 7 eyes were assessed at a 1-year follow-up examination. The mean number of injections per eye was 2.7. The mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution best-corrected visual acuity improved significantly from 0.31 +/- 0.29 to 0.15 +/- 0.38 (P < 0.05). The mean central foveal thickness decreased from 332 +/- 83 microm to 261 +/- 66 microm (P < 0.01). Fluorescein angiography showed no leakage at 1 year in all eyes. All patients whose best-corrected visual acuity improved by > or =0.2 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution had a visual acuity of > or =20/40 when first injected at baseline.


CONCLUSIONS
The intravitreal injection of bevacizumab is effective for stabilizing or improving vision in patients with idiopathic choroidal neovascularization, as evaluated at a 1-year follow-up examination. In particular, this treatment may be well tolerated in patients with a visual acuity of > or =20/40 at baseline. Additional investigations are needed to assess the long-term safety and the optimal protocol for intravitreal bevacizumab administration.
Inoue
Maiko
M
Department of Ophthalmology, Yokohama City University Medical Center, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. maicoo@urahp.yokohama-cu.ac.jp
Kadonosono
Kazuaki
K
Watanabe
Yoichiro
Y
Sato
Shimpei
S
Kobayashi
Satoshi
S
Yamane
Shin
S
Ito
Rieko
R
Arakawa
Akira
A
D000328:Adult; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019233:Retreatment; 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