Bevacizumab and the treatment of macular edema

Bevacizumab for the treatment of macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion

Ophthalmologe. 2007 Mar 20
Schaal KB,
Hoh AE,
Scheuerle A,
Schutt F,
Dithmar S.
Schwerpunkt Retinologie, Universitatsaugenklinik Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Deutschland, stefan.dithmar@med.uni-heidelberg.de.

BACKGROUND: Retinal vein occlusion often leads to macular edema as a result of an elevated level of intravitreal VEGF. We report on the anatomic and functional results after intravitreal bevacizumab injections in patients with retinal vein occlusion.

METHODS: In a prospective study, 18 patients with central, and 22 patients with branch retinal vein occlusion, all of whom had persistent macular edema (>300 mum) received 2.5 mg intravitreal bevacizumab. ETDRS visual acuity, ophthalmic examination and stratus OCT were performed at baseline, 1 week after injection and then monthly. Further injections were given every 6 weeks in patients with persistent or recurring macular edema.

RESULTS: The findings did not deteriorate in any of the 40 patients. The injections (mean of 2.6+/-1.4 injections/patient) were very well tolerated in all cases during a mean follow-up of 23+/-13 weeks. On the last visit, 73.3% of patients with central retinal vein occlusion and 76.5% of those with branch retinal vein occlusion were found to have significantly improved visual acuity (by at least 3 lines). Mean central retinal thickness had decreased from 921+/-264 to 239+/-66.2 mum in patients with central retinal vein occlusion, and from 678+/-221 to 236+/-78 mum in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion.

CONCLUSIONS: Neither intraocular nor systemic side-effects were observed in this study after repeated intravitreal injections of 2.5 mg bevacizumab. Current results suggest that intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy is a promising option in macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion.

PMID: 17372737 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]