title: Short-term topical bevacizumab in the treatment of stable corneal neovascularization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the safety and efficacy of topical bevacizumab in the treatment of corneal neovascularization.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, nonrandomized, interventional case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  setting: Institutional, multicenter clinical trial. study population: Twenty eyes from 20 patients with stable corneal neovascularization. intervention procedures: Patients were treated with topical 1.0% bevacizumab for 3 weeks and were monitored for a total of 24 weeks. main outcome measures: Primary outcome measures included: neovascular area, defined as the area of the corneal vessels themselves; vessel caliber, defined as the mean corneal vessel diameter; and invasion area, defined as the fraction of the total cornea into which the vessels extended. The occurrence of ocular and systemic adverse events was monitored closely.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As compared with the baseline visit, patients exhibited a statistically significant improvement in neovascular area by week 6 (P = .007) and in vessel caliber by week 12 (P = .006). At the final visit, neovascular area, vessel caliber, and invasion area were reduced by 47.5%, 36.2%, and 20%, respectively. The decreases in neovascular area and vessel caliber were statistically significant (P < .001 and P = .003, respectively); however, the reduction in invasion area did not reach statistical significance (P = .06). There were no significant changes in the secondary outcomes, and there were no adverse events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short-term topical bevacizumab treatment reduced the extent of stable corneal neovascularization as measured by neovascular area and vessel caliber with no associated adverse events. Interestingly, the degree of treatment efficacy was inversely proportional to the baseline invasion area.
authors.affiliation: Cornea Service, Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Sheng-Fu
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Mohammad H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Dastjerdi
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Okanobo
authors.forename: Kraig S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Bower
authors.forename: Denise S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amparo
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Stevenson
authors.forename: Pedram
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hamrah
authors.forename: Nambi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nallasamy
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dana
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003315:Cornea / Q000098:blood supply; D016510:Corneal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab