title: Use of bevacizumab for macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This systematic review assesses the effectiveness of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) versus a comparison group in the treatment of branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO)-associated macular edema, and explores its effects on visual acuity (VA) and central macular thickness (CMT).
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors searched the following databases: Medline (1950-October week 3, 2011), The Cochrane Library (Issue 10, 2011), EMBASE (up to 24 October 2011), and the TRIP Database (up to 24 October 2011), using no language or other limits. Trials that were included consisted of patients with BRVO-associated macular edema, those comparing a 1.25 mg IVB injection with a comparison group, those reporting both VA and CMT outcomes, and those having a minimum follow-up of 4 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the four trials comparing IVB with a comparison group, IVB was effective in improving VA and CMT values in the long-term (12 weeks) in patients with BRVO-associated macular edema. Furthermore, statistically significant improvements in VA in the short-term (4 weeks) could also be seen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinicians should use this review as an indicator that IVB is effective in improving VA and CMT values in the long-term in patients with BRVO-associated macular edema. It is important to note, however, that statistically significant improvements in VA in the short term could be seen. This review's main aim was to serve as an evidence base for potentially using other modalities, such as IVB, which seems to be reserved for certain cases.
authors.affiliation: Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Department of Visual Services, 133 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA. Taygan.yilmaz@gmail.com
authors.forename: Taygan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cordero-Coma
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016208:Databases, Factual; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; 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