title: Effects of subconjunctivally injected bevacizumab, etanercept, and the combination of both drugs on experimental corneal neovascularization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effect of subconjunctivally injected bevacizumab, etanercept and the combination of both drugs on experimental corneal neovascularization in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  28 male Wistar-Albino rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Right corneas of rats were cauterized by silver nitrate sticks. Rats were divided randomly and equally into 4 groups so that each group contained 7 subjects. Immediately after the cauterization, 0.05 ml normal saline was injected subconjunctivally in group 1 (control group); 0.05 ml (1.25 mg) bevacizumab was injected subconjunctivally in group 2; 0.05 ml (1.25 mg) etanercept was injected subconjunctivally in group 3; 0.05 ml (1.25 mg) bevacizumab and 0.05 ml (1.25 mg) etanercept was injected subconjunctivally in group 4. The rats were euthanized on the 8th day, and digital photographs were obtained before the eyes were enucleated. The area of corneal neovascularization was calculated from digital photographs. Corneal sections were analyzed by histopathologically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The burn stimulus score was +1 or higher in all eyes. The difference of the neovascularization score between groups was found to be statistically significant (p = 0.001). The area of corneal neovascularization was 79.8% in group 1, 43.2% in group 2, 54.5% in group 3, and 34.8% in group 4. In group 4, corneal neovascularization was inhibited more than in the other groups. Histologic examination showed that the treatment groups had less neovascularization, inflammation, and fibroblast activity than the control group (p< 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study has shown that etanercept does have some antiangiogenic and anti-inflammatory effects in treatment of corneal neovascularization. The combination of bevacizumab and etanercept may be a promising approach in the treatment of corneal neovascularization.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. ozdemirozdemir@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ozdemir
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
authors.forename: Ozgul
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Altintas
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Altintas
authors.forename: Demir Kursat
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.forename: Ender
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sener
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Caglar
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D003228:Conjunctiva; D060527:Corneal Keratocytes / Q000473:pathology; D016510:Corneal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D000068800:Etanercept; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D056965:Injections, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C467498:vascular endothelial growth factor A, rat; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D000068800:Etanercept