title: Efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab for macular edema following branch retinal vein occlusion stratified by baseline visual acuity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the clinical features and bevacizumab efficacy for macular edema (ME) following branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) stratified by baseline visual acuity.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study included a total 117 eyes from 117 consecutive patients with ME following BRVO, who received PRN intravitreal bevacizumab injection and were followed for more than 6 months. The eyes were categorized into three groups according to baseline best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (group A, BCVA <20/200; group B, BCVA ≥20/200 and ≤20/40; group C, BCVA >20/40). Baseline demographics, clinical features, BCVA, and central retinal thickness (CRT) at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after injection and the number of injections were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Groups A-C included 11, 83, and 23 eyes, respectively. The mean baseline CRT was thickest in group A (810.1, 580.8, and 473.5 μm in groups A-C, respectively; p < 0.001) and the percentage of eyes with macular ischemia increased in the worst BCVA group (45.5, 25.0, and 4.3 % in groups A-C, respectively; p = 0.005). The mean BCVA and CRT improved at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment compared to baseline values in all groups (all, p < 0.001). The number of injections for 6 months was greater in the worst BCVA group (3.2, 2.3, and 1.9 injections in groups A-C, respectively; p = 0.009).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In ME following BRVO, baseline visual acuity correlates with macular ischemia and baseline CRT. Intravitreal bevacizumab treatment results in significant anatomical and functional improvement regardless of baseline visual acuity.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, #170 Hyunchungro, Nam-gu, Daegu, 42415, Korea.
authors: Mirae
authors: M
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, #170 Hyunchungro, Nam-gu, Daegu, 42415, Korea.
authors: Seongyong
authors: S
authors: Jeong
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, #170 Hyunchungro, Nam-gu, Daegu, 42415, Korea. msagong@ynu.ac.kr.
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Sagong
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000068258:Bevacizumab / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000473:pathology; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab
keywords: Baseline visual acuity; Branch retinal vein occlusion; Central retinal thickness; Macular edema