title: Combined treatment of photodynamic therapy and bevacizumab for choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the outcome of a combined photodynamic therapy and intravitreal injection of bevacizumab in choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Photodynamic therapy (PDT) was administered to 28 eyes followed by 3 consecutive bevacizumab injections. Patients were followed-up for more than 12 months. At baseline, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post PDT, visual acuity (VA) and central macular thickness were measured using optical coherence tomography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean VA was significantly improved from logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution 0.86 at baseline to 0.69 at 1 month (p = 0.011), 0.63 at 3 months (p = 0.003), 0.64 at 6 months (p = 0.004) and 0.60 at 12 months (p < 0.001). Central macular thickness decreased significantly from 328.3 µm at baseline to 230.0 µm at 6 months and 229.9 µm at 1 year (p < 0.001). Reinjection mean number was 0.4 for 6 months and 0.8 for 12 months. By 1 year, retreatment was performed in 10 eyes (36%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PDT combined with three consecutive intraviteal bevacizumab injections was effective in improving VA and reducing central macular thickness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Inje University College of Medicine, #1-10 Ami-dong, Seo-gu, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Woong
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jung Lim
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mi Hyun
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyung Gon
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: In Young
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Ji Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin; D000068258:Bevacizumab