title: Use of Bevacizumab for neurological complications during initial treatment of malignant gliomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High grade gliomas are the most common primary malignant brain tumours. Treatment with chemoradiation and adjuvant chemotherapy with Temozolomide may prolong survival but some patients develop complications during or soon after therapy due to radiation necrosis, oedema or tumour progression.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the use of Bevacizumab in four patients with newly diagnosed high grade gliomas who developed cerebral oedema due to tumour progression or radiation necrosis that did not respond to corticosteroids, and who were not candidates for surgical debulking.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All four patients had a rapid response to treatment with bevacizumab, tolerating a decrease of the dose of corticosteroids, and were able to continue their standard therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bevacizumab is effective in controlling some of the neurological complications from oedema, radiation necrosis, or rapid tumour progression during the initial treatment of malignant gliomas.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department, Neuro-Oncology Division, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Arratibel-Echarren
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Albright
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dalmau
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Rosenfeld
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D005910:Glioma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab