title: Influence of intravitreal injection of bevacizumab on systemic blood pressure changes in patients with exudative form of age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of our study was to examine blood pressure (BP) changes in hypertensive and nonhypertensive patients after intravitreal bevacizumab injections and to assess whether intravitreal bevacizumab carries an associated vascular risk in patients with exudative ocular disease. We also aimed to estimate the influence of gender.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 57 patients with age-related macular degeneration who received an intravitreal injection of 1.25 mg (0.1 mL) of bevacizumab. We analyzed systolic and diastolic BP values separately. Patients were divided into males and females, and into hypertensives and normotensives based on their BP values. BP was measured before bevacizumab administration, and 10 minutes, 1 hour, 2 days, 7 days and 6 weeks after the injection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Males had a statistically significant decline in systolic BP values 1 hour and 6 weeks after drug administration (p<0.05). The most notable significant decline in diastolic BP values was for males and for normotensive participants 1 hour after drug administration (p<0.05), while the most notable decline in diastolic BP values for females and for hypertensive participants was 7 days after drug administration, with statistical significance only for hypertensive patients (p<0.01). For males it was noticed that a statistically significant decline in diastolic BP persisted after 6 weeks (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An intravitreal bevacizumab injection is safe as regards BP changes over 6 weeks post administration. Regular follow up for 6 weeks should be mandatory in order to promptly recognize individuals who have changes in BP values and include them in BP treatment in order to prevent complications.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Dijana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Risimic
authors.forename: Svetislav
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Milenkovic
authors.forename: Dejan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nikolic
authors.forename: Dejan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Simeunovic
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jaksic
authors.forename: Milenko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stojkovic
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stefanovic
authors.forename: Natasa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jakovic
authors.forename: Milica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prostran
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D057135:Wet Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab