Efficacy of intralesional bevacizumab injection in decreasing pterygium size.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of intralesional bevacizumab injection in decreasing size of pterygium.


METHODS
Seventeen patients with pterygium (14 with primary and 3 with recurrent pterygium) received intralesional injections of bevacizumab (2.5 mg/0.1 mL). Digital photographs were analyzed by image analysis software to determine the change of corneal involvement as a percentage of the total corneal surface.


RESULTS
The mean age of the patients was 45.5 ± 15.8 years. The mean percentage size of lesions before injection was 17.2% ± 4.3% of corneal surface. The mean percentage size of lesions 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after injection was 15.1% ± 4.3%, 13.4% ± 4.0%, and 14.1% ± 4.4% of corneal surface, respectively. The mean percentage decrease of lesion size was 3.97% ± 3.84%. There were statistically significant differences between percentage of lesion size before and 1 week (P < 0.001), 1 month (P < 0.001), and 3 months (P < 0.001) after injection of bevacizumab. There were neither postinjection ocular complications such as rise of intraocular pressure nor systemic adverse events. Visual acuity did not change after injection of bevacizumab. Despite statistically significant decrease in pterygium size, this decrease does not seem to be clinically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Intralesional bevacizumab injection is fairly effective in reducing the size of pterygium and is well tolerated; however, this effect is not clinically significant.
Fallah Tafti
Mohammad Reza
MR
Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Cornea Department, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. mahammadpour@yahoo.com
Khosravifard
Keivan
K
Mohammadpour
Mehrdad
M
Hashemian
Mohammad Naser
MN
Kiarudi
Mohammad Yaser
MY
D000328:Adult; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D003229:Conjunctival Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D008875:Middle Aged; D010781:Photography / Q000379:methods; D011625:Pterygium / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab