title: Intravitreal bevacizumab for age-related macular degeneration with good visual acuity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To retrospectively study the efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) for exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in patients with good visual acuity (VA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen eyes of 15 patients (mean age, 69.0 ± 11.3 years) with AMD whose VA was 0.6 or better were treated with IVB 1.25 mg/0.05 ml. The patients were followed for 12 to 29 months (mean, 17.4 ± 4.9 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) ranged from 0.6 to 1.2 (mean, 0.89 ± 0.21) at baseline and was stable in 13 of 15 eyes (86.7%) when BCVA was 0.6 or better at the end of follow-up. The VA levels did not differ significantly (P = 0.42; paired t test) between baseline and the final examination. Two of the 15 eyes underwent photodynamic therapy during follow-up. The mean central retinal thickness significantly decreased from 278.4 ± 71.9 μm at baseline to 240.00 ± 58.5 μm at 3 months after the first IVB treatment (P = 0.02; Wilcoxon signed rank test). During follow-up, a mean of two injections was administered, and 47% of patients required only one injection. No adverse events developed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IVB was effective for maintaining good vision in exudative AMD in 15 eyes for at least 12 months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Gunma University School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan. maki-t@wg7.so-net.ne.jp
authors.forename: Maki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Taku
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Shoji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kishi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; 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; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; 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