title: Bevacizumab for neovascular age-related macular degeneration in China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate 2 different dosing regimens of intravitreal bevacizumab for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multicenter, randomized, prospective, open-label clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred eighty-five patients with active neovascular AMD, exclusion of a macular scar, choroidal neovascularization not resulting from AMD, and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were assigned randomly to receive intravitreal injections of bevacizumab every 6 weeks for the first 3 injections followed by injections every 6 weeks (regimen A, n = 91) or every 12 weeks (regimen B, n = 94).
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome measure was a comparison of the mean change in visual acuity from baseline. The secondary outcome measure was a comparison of the proportion of patients with a change in visual acuity of 15 letters or more. Adverse events were monitored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One-hundred eighty five patients were enrolled. At 48 weeks, the increase in the mean visual acuity measurements from baseline were 12.58 letters in regimen A and 10.06 letters in regimen B (P = 0.288). At 48 weeks, the percentage of eyes losing fewer than 15 letters was 96.2% in regimen A and 93.9% in regimen B (P = 0.720). At 48 weeks, the median decrease in central retinal thickness measurements from baseline was 119 μm in regimen A and 60 μm in regimen B (P = 0.221). Adverse events during the 48 weeks included anterior chamber inflammation in 17 patients (18.7%) from regimen A and 9 patients (9.6%) from regimen B (P = 0.075). There were no other notable ocular adverse events in either group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intravitreal bevacizumab improved visual acuity and decreased macular thickness in patients with neovascular AMD when dosed either every 6 weeks or every 12 weeks after 3 doses given at 6-week intervals. Although there were no statistically significant differences between the 2 regimens, the results tended to favor the group dosed every 6 weeks (regimen A).
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, People's Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China. dr_lixiaoxin@163.com
authors: Xiaoxin
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: Yonghua
authors: Y
authors: Hu
authors: Xiaodong
authors: X
authors: Sun
authors: Junjun
authors: J
authors: Zhang
authors: Maonian
authors: M
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D057135:Wet Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D004396:Coloring Agents; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D007208:Indocyanine Green