title: Intravitreal bevacizumab for treatment of choroidal neovascularization secondary to toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis: a case series.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) in treatment of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four patients affected by CNV secondary to inactive toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis received 1.25 mg intravitreal bevacizumab and were followed for at least six months. Patients underwent a full ophthalmic examination and fluorescein angiography (FA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT), revealing an active subfoveal CNV close to an old chorioretinal scar. All the patients were positive for toxoplasma immunoglobulins. Outcome measures were changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) and any adverse event related to the therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CNV regressed at eight weeks of follow-up and remained stable at six months of follow-up. Best-corrected visual acuity improved from mean 0.05 to 0.25. After six months, the BCVA improved in all patients (p < 0.05) and CMT decreased from 396 +/-7 micron to 253+/-17 micron. Metamorphopsia was resolved in all cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intravitreal bevacizumab seems to be an effective treatment for the long-term control of juxta/subfoveal CNV secondary to toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis. Further trials are mandatory to validate the data of our case series.
authors.affiliation: Isfahan University of Medical Sciences , Isfahan , Iran and.
authors.forename: Farzan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kianersi
authors.forename: Afsaneh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Naderi Beni
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Naderi Beni
authors.forename: Heshmatollah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ghanbari
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D002825:Chorioretinitis / Q000150:complications*; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014126:Toxoplasmosis, Ocular / Q000150:complications*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab
keywords: Choroidal neovascularization; intravitreal bevacizumab; toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis