title: Comparison of the effects of subconjunctival and topical anti-VEGF therapy (bevacizumab) on experimental corneal neovascularization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effects of bevacizumab applied either subconjunctivally or topically, in a rat model of corneal neovascularization induced by alkali burn.
  
  
  METHODS
  The right corneas of 24 Wistar-Albino rats were cauterized with silver nitrate sticks. The rats were divided randomly and equally into three groups: no treatment control (n=8), subconjunctival bevacizumab treatment (n=8), and topical bevacizumab treatment (n=8). Immediately following cauterization, the subconjunctival group was treated with a 0.05 ml (1.25 mg) bevacizumab subconjunctival injection. The topical group was treated with 10 mg/ml bevacizumab twice daily, and the control group received subconjunctival saline injections twice daily. The burn stimulus and neovascularization scores were evaluated using a technique previously described by Mahoney and Waterbury. Digital photographs were obtained before the eyes were enucleated and corneal sections were then analyzed by histopathology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean burn stimulus score was 1.86 ± 0.6 and there was no statistical difference between the groups (p=0.730). The mean neovascularization scores in the subconjunctival and topical bevacizumab groups were statistically lower than the control group (p<0.05). The mean percentage area of corneal neovascularization was 82.5 ± 22.1 in the control group, 42.7 ± 15.0 in the subconjunctival group, and 55.8 ± 18.2 in the topical group. The differences between the control and treatment groups were statistically significant (p<0.05). Histopathology showed that the treatment groups presented less neovascularization, inflammation, and fibroblast activity than the control group (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that both subconjunctival and topical administrations of bevacizumab inhibit corneal neovascularization and decrease inflammation and fibroblast activity in a rat model of corneal neovascularization induced by alkali burn.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozdemir
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozgul
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Altintas
authors.affiliation: School of Occupational Health and Safety, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Altintas
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Berna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ozkan
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cigdem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Akdag
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nurşen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yüksel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D003315:Cornea / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D016510:Corneal Neovascularization / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D056965:Injections, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab