title: Comparison of systemic adverse events associated with intravitreal anti-VEGF injection: ranibizumab versus bevacizumab.
abstract: The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of systemic adverse events in patients treated with intravitreal injections of bevacizumab or ranibizumab, and to evaluate whether compared to ranibizumab administration, bevacizumab constitutes a higher risk for systemic adverse events. A retrospective review was conducted for 916 consecutive patients treated with at least 1 intravitreal injection of bevacizumab or ranibizumab. Cox regression was performed to assess whether a variable had predictive value for occurrence of new systemic adverse events and to account for different follow-up times. A total of 702 patients were analyzed; 503 patients received bevacizumab alone, and 199 patients received ranibizumab alone. Systemic adverse events occurred in 10 of 702 patients (1.4%): 7 in the bevacizumab group (7/503; 1.4%) and 3 in the ranibizumab group (3/199; 1.5%). This difference was not statistically significant (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.573). Cox proportional hazards analysis of 4 models did not reveal a covariate that significantly changed the hazard for systemic adverse events. In conclusion, compared to ranibizumab, bevacizumab may not increase the risk of systemic adverse events in patients receiving intravitreal injections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Duck Jin
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Yong Woo
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Se Joon
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: Kyu Hyung
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; 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; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000209:etiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D000069579:Ranibizumab; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D000069579:Ranibizumab