Abstract
Purpose: :
To investigate the safety and efficacy of bevacizumab in the treatment of choroidal neovascularization secondary to uveitis.
Methods: :
Patients with uveitis and choroidal nevovascularization receiving bevacizumab were identified at the Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution between March 2005 and September 2010. Patients with alternate diagnoses for choroidal neovascularization such as macular degeneration, choriodal rupture, myopic degeneration, etc. were excluded.
Results: :
Twelve eyes of 9 consecutive patients treated with bevacizumab were identified. Mean follow up 2.18 years (SD: 1.56 years, range: 4.3 months - 5.0 years) from the date of first injection. The average number of injections required during follow up was 6.9 (SD: 4.2, range: 1-14 injections). Treatment resulted in improvement in visual acuity by a mean of 2 lines (SD: 3.6, range: -7 to +5 lines). However, central retinal thickness did not change significantly with treatment (306.6, SD: 101.4 microns vs. 320.1, SD: 100.8 microns, paired t test: p=0.88). Intravitreal bevacizumab resulted in resolution of fluorescein leakage due to choroidal neovascularization in the majority of eyes (9/10 eyes in which complete data was available). Seven of 9 patients were receiving systemic immunomodulatory therapy for control of ocular inflammation at the time of treatment. No ocular or systemic complications occurred due to administration of bevacizumab.
Conclusions: :
Intravitreal bevacizumab in conjunction with systemic immunomodulatory therapy is a safe and effective treatment modality in patients with choroidal neovascularization secondary to uveitis.
Keywords: uveitis-clinical/animal model • choroid: neovascularization • vascular endothelial growth factor