title: Bevacizumab vs photodynamic therapy for choroidal neovascularization in multifocal choroiditis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy (PDT) vs intravitreal bevacizumab injection in patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to multifocal choroiditis (MC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients affected by subfoveal CNV associated with MC referred for clinical evaluation from March 1, 2005, to July 31, 2008, were considered for this pilot randomized clinical trial. Twenty-seven patients were included in the study and followed up from March 15, 2005, through April 30, 2009. After randomization, patients receiving PDT were treated according to the Treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration With Photodynamic Therapy protocol, whereas patients receiving intravitreal bevacizumab injection, after a loading phase of 3 monthly injections, were examined monthly and re-treated on the basis of detection of fluid on optical coherence tomography and/or leakage on fluorescein angiography.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome measure was the 5- and 15-letter change on the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study charts at 12-month examinations compared with baseline. Secondary outcomes included central macular thickness changes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen and 14 patients were randomized to PDT and bevacizumab treatment, respectively. At the 12-month examination, 5 of 14 eyes treated with bevacizumab and 0 of 13 eyes treated with PDT experienced a best-corrected visual acuity gain of greater than 3 lines (P = .04). Twelve eyes in the bevacizumab group and 6 eyes in the PDT group gained more than 1 line (P = .04). The central macular thickness showed a progressive reduction in both subgroups without a significant difference compared with the baseline values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Greater beneficial effects can be achieved using intravitreal bevacizumab injection rather than PDT for the treatment of subfoveal CNV secondary to MC. Larger multicenter investigations are needed to confirm our preliminary results. Application to Clinical Practice Currently, there is no precise indication regarding the best therapeutic approach to subfoveal CNV secondary to MC. This investigation was designed to verify whether intravitreal bevacizumab injection has a more beneficial effect with respect to PDT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University Vita-Salute, Scientific Institute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio Battaglia
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Parodi
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Iacono
authors.forename: Dimitrios Stelyos
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Kontadakis
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zucchiatti
authors.forename: Maria Lucia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cascavilla
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bandello
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002833:Choroiditis / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D014822:Vitreous Body; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000077362:Verteporfin; D000068258:Bevacizumab