title: Bevacizumab for macular edema in central retinal vein occlusion: a prospective, randomized, double-masked clinical study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of intraocular injections with bevacizumab in patients with macular edema (ME) secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized, sham injection-controlled, double-masked clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty patients with ME secondary to CRVO.
  
  
  METHODS
  At baseline, patients were randomized 1:1 to receive intraocular injections of bevacizumab or sham injections every 6 weeks for 6 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome measure was the proportion of patients gaining at least 15 letters at 6 months. Secondary outcome measures included mean change from baseline best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), foveal thickness, and neovascular glaucoma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the end of follow-up, 18 of 30 patients (60.0%) in the study group had gained ≥15 letters compared with 6 of 30 patients (20.0%) in the control group (P=0.003). The BCVA improved by 14.1 letters at 24 weeks compared with a decrease of 2.0 letters in the control group (P < 0.003). The mean decrease in central retinal thickness (CRT) was significantly greater in the study group (426 μm) than in the control group (102 μm) at all time points up to week 24 (P < 0.001). No residual edema, defined as CRT <300 μm at 24 weeks, was found in 26 of 30 patients (86.7%) in the treatment group compared with 6 of 30 patients (20%) in the control group (P < 0.001). In the sham group, 5 of 30 patients (16.7%) had developed iris rubeosis at week 24. No patients in the study group had rubeosis at week 24 (P=0.052). There were no events of endophthalmitis, retinal tear, or retinal detachment during the 24-week treatment period. No serious non-ocular adverse events were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intraocular injections of bevacizumab given every 6 weeks for 6 months improve visual acuity (VA) and reduce ME significantly compared with sham.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Karolinska Institutet, St. Eriks Eye Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. david.epstein@sankterik.se
authors.forename: David L J
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Epstein
authors.forename: Peep V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Algvere
authors.forename: Gunvor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: von Wendt
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seregard
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kvanta
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; 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; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab