title: Subconjunctival bevacizumab immediately after excision of primary pterygium: the first clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of subconjunctival bevacizumab immediately after excision of primary pterygium.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty patients (80 eyes) with primary pterygium were included in this double-blind clinical trial. The pterygia were excised by the bare sclera technique. Then, the patients were randomized in 2 equal groups; group A received subconjunctival bevacizumab (1.25 mg/0.1 mL) injected immediately after surgical excision of the pterygium, and placebo was administered in the same way in group B. Patients were followed-up for 9 months after the operation, and the possible complications and recurrence rate were documented. Thirty-three patients (33 eyes) completed the study in each group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rate of complications was comparable between the 2 groups (57.6% in group A versus 63.6% in group B; P = 0.61). None of these complications was clinically significant, and they resolved spontaneously or by using conservative measures. The recurrence rate was higher in group B compared with group A (57.6% vs. 45.5%); however, this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.33; odds ratio, 1.63; 95% confidence interval, 0.62-4.31).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subconjunctival injection of bevacizumab immediately after surgical excision of primary pterygium is well-tolerated, but it cannot significantly prevent the recurrence of this condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Nikookari Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Abdollah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shenasi
authors.forename: Farideh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mousavi
authors.forename: Solmaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shoa-Ahari
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rahimi-Ardabili
authors.forename: Rohollah Fadaei
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Fouladi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000187:drug effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D056965:Injections, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D011625:Pterygium / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab