[Effect of intravitreal bevacizumab on pigment epithelial detachment in occult choroidal neovascularization].
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to investigate the effect of bevacizumab on pigment epithelial detachment (PED) in occult choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and to determine predictive factors.


METHODS
73 eyes of patients with AMD and PED due to CNV with subretinal and/or intraretinal fluid were assessed. Patients were treated with 1.25 mg of intravitreal bevacizumab.


RESULTS
After 30.6 weeks, the mean visual acuity (VA) increased from 0.53 to 0.49 logMAR (p=0.170). The mean PED height decreased from 354.4 μm to 277.4 μm (p=0.004). Although 53.4% of the eyes showed a reduction in PED, this did not correlate with a significant change in VA. Predictive factors were a high baseline PED and VA <0.32.


CONCLUSIONS
Half of the patients showed PED flattening. Especially in patients with distinctive PED, a response to intravitreal bevacizumab may be expected. This therapy can stabilize VA, but PED flattening does not essentially correlate with an increase in VA.
Universitäts-Augenklinik, Im Neuneheimer Feld 400, Heidelberg.
M
M
Ruppenstein
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T
Ach
A
A
Höh
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S
Dithmar
D000368:Aged; 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*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab