[Effect of repeated intravitreal bevacizumab injections for secondary macular edema of branch retinal vein occlusion].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injections for secondary macular edema of branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).


METHODS
We treated 91 patients (91 eyes) with IVB injections (1.25 mg/0.05 ml), including 27 eyes which received two injections. Visual acuity and central retinal thickness (CRT) were measured at 1, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after injection.


RESULTS
The mean visual acuity and CRT improved from 0.25 (610.8 microm) at baseline to 0.47 (238.4 microm) 4 weeks after injection and 0.45 (368.7 microm) after 12 weeks. Twenty seven eyes among the total of 91 eyes had a second injection due to recurrence or worsened metamorphopsia. In these cases, mean visual acuity and CRT improved from 0.33 (483.7 microm) at baseline to 0.44 (234.3 microm) 4 weeks after injection and 0.42 (296.8 microm) after 12 weeks. Comparing the efficacy by the number of treatments, visual acuity and CRT improved more significantly in a first time treatment group.


CONCLUSIONS
IVB injection is generally effective, but recurrence occurred in 26/47 eyes based on CRT. The second injection is effective, however, its effect is weak when compared with the first injection.
Department of Ophthalmology, Aomori Prefectural Central Hospital, Japan. shinya_hara@med.pref.aomori.jp
Shinya
S
Hara
Tomoki
T
Sakuraba
Hideki
H
Kataoka
Satsuki
S
Yanagihashi
Kaori
K
Saitou
Yasuko
Y
Noda
D000328:Adult; 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; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D056965:Injections, Intraocular; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab