Intravitreal bevacizumab versus low-fluence photodynamic therapy for treatment of chronic central serous chorioretinopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To report the effectiveness and safety of intravitreal bevacizumab injection (IVB) compared with low-fluence photodynamic therapy (L-PDT) in eyes with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).


METHODS
This was a prospective comparative interventional study of 22 patients affected by chronic CSC. Patients were randomly assigned to group 1 (12 patients treated with 1.25 mg IVB) and group 2 (10 patients treated with L-PDT). In group 2, PDT with verteporfin was delivered at low fluence (300 mW/cm(2) for 83 s, 25 J/cm(2)). Follow-up visits were scheduled at 1, 3, 6, and 9 months.


RESULTS
The improvement in visual acuity was greater in group 1 than in group 2, although the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.59). The mean change in central point thickness over 9 months from baseline was 127 μm (SD 36) in group 1 and 114 μm (SD 42) in group 2. After the first injection, retreatments were given if recurrence was noted, with an average of 3.0 ± 1 injections in group 1 and 1.6 ± 0.6 treatments with L-PDT in group 2. The difference between retreatment in the 2 groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.45).


CONCLUSIONS
Based on the results obtained after 9 months of follow-up, our study provides evidence that IVB may be a treatment option for chronic CSC.
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Francesco
F
Semeraro
Mario R
MR
Romano
Paola
P
Danzi
Francesco
F
Morescalchi
Ciro
C
Costagliola
D000328:Adult; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D056833:Central Serous Chorioretinopathy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008297:Male; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012160:Retina / Q000503:physiopathology; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab