March 2012
Volume 53, Issue 14
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   March 2012
One-year Follow-up Of Serum Vegf Levels In Patients Treated With Intravitreal Bevacizumab For Diabetic Retinopathy
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Andreas Pollreisz
    Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  • Matthias Bolz
    Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  • Markus Ritter
    Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  • Gerald Schmidinger
    Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  • Noemi Maar
    Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  • Christoph D. Scholda
    Department of Ophthalmology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  • Ursula Schmidt-Erfurth
    Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  • DRRG - Diabetic Retinopathy Research Group Vienna
    Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  Andreas Pollreisz, None; Matthias Bolz, None; Markus Ritter, None; Gerald Schmidinger, None; Noemi Maar, None; Christoph D. Scholda, None; Ursula Schmidt-Erfurth, None
  • Footnotes
    Support  None
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science March 2012, Vol.53, 3287. doi:
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      Andreas Pollreisz, Matthias Bolz, Markus Ritter, Gerald Schmidinger, Noemi Maar, Christoph D. Scholda, Ursula Schmidt-Erfurth, DRRG - Diabetic Retinopathy Research Group Vienna; One-year Follow-up Of Serum Vegf Levels In Patients Treated With Intravitreal Bevacizumab For Diabetic Retinopathy. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2012;53(14):3287.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose: : To evaluate levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the serum of patients with diabetic retinopathy treated with intravitreal bevacizumab over the course of 1 year.

Methods: : 11 patients with diabetic macula edema (DME) and 7 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDRP) were included in the study. Patients were treated with intravitreal bevacizumab (1 mg, 0.04 ml) at each monthly visit when there was persistent macula edema in the DME group and persistence or recurrence of new vessels in the PDRP group. Serum samples were collected at baseline (prior to first intravitreal injection) and at month 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12. Concentration of VEGF-A was measured with a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results: : The mean baseline VEGF concentration was 96.16 pg/ml (36.10) (SEM) in the DME group and 59.85 pg/ml (34.85) (SEM) in the PDRP group. At month 1, 3 and 6 mean VEGF levels decreased to 72.34 pg/ml (30.14), 62.20 pg/ml (20.20) and 71.9 pg/ml (22.73) in DME patients and to 49.91 pg/ml (28.48), 44.42 pg/ml (16.97) and 46.18 pg/ml (14.25) in PDRP patients, respectively. 5.3 intravitreal bevacizumab injections were required until month 6 in the DME and 2.6 injections in the PDRP group. From month 6 to month 12 the number of injection-free periods increased, which resulted in 3.1 injections in the DME and 1.3 injections in the PDRP group. During this time period mean serum VEGF levels increased to 80.56 pg/ml (26.41) (DME) and 60.32 pg/ml (23.21) (PDRP) at month 9 and to 85.57 pg/ml (26.11) (DME) and 58.33 pg/ml (33.59) (PDRP) at month 12.

Conclusions: : Our study shows the effect of intravitreally-applied bevacizumab on VEGF levels in the peripheral blood over the course of 1 year in patients with diabetic retinopathy treated according to PRN regimens. In the majority of patients intravitreally-applied bevacizumab lead to decreased systemic VEGF levels that increased after prolonged injection-free periods.

Clinical Trial: : http://www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT00545870

Keywords: diabetic retinopathy • vascular endothelial growth factor • drug toxicity/drug effects 
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