title: Predictors of response after intravitreal bevacizumab injection for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify fluorescein angiography (FA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) characteristics predicting responses to intravitreal bevacizumab therapy in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Results of 113 consecutive patients (113 eyes) treated with intravitreal bevacizumab injections for neovascular AMD were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were categorized into two groups according to visual acuity (VA) improvement 1 year after treatment: responders and nonresponders. Responders were defined as patients who achieved VA improvement ≥7 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters for occult choroidal neovascularization (CNV), and ≥11 ETDRS letters for classic CNV at month 12. N onresponders were defined as patients who did not meet the above VA improvement at month 12.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 113 eyes, 36 (31.9%) were categorized as responders and 77 (68.1%) as nonresponders. Nonresponders, compared with responders, had thicker subretinal tissue (SRT) (218.9 μm versus 180.9 μm, P = 0.040), and more frequent cystoid macular edema (CME) (42.9% versus 13.9%, P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thick SRT and CME on OCT may be characteristic of nonresponders and may be helpful for tailoring treatment for neovascular AMD.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yeo Jue
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Byun
authors.forename: Sung Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyoung Jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Koh
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; 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; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D019233:Retreatment; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab