Abstract
Purpose: :
Macular edema (ME) is a significant cause of visual loss associated with retinal vein occlusion (RVO). Vascular endothelial growth factor has been implicated in the pathogenesis of ME in RVO. We sought to report the visual and anatomic results of intravitreal bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody against VEGF, for the treatment ME associated with RVO.
Methods: :
A retrospective chart review of consecutive patients with ME associated with RVO receiving one or more injections of intravitreal bevacizumab (1.25 mg in 0.05 ml) between December 2005 and December 2006. Snellen visual acuity (VA) and central macular thickness (CMT) from optical coherence tomography (OCT) at time of injection and at subsequent follow up visits, as well as any adverse side effects were recorded.
Results: :
Of 33 eyes of 33 patients included in the study, there was a trend toward improved visual acuity at one, three and six months in all eyes but it did not reach statistical significance. Central macular thickness decreased significantly at one month from 480.3 mm to 326.3 mm (p < 0.001). Likewise, at 3 and 6 months, CMT decreased significantly from 490.5 mm to 389.9 mm and 489.6 mm to 348.3 mm, respectively (p = 0.007 and p = 0.002). No adverse effects were noted.
Conclusions: :
Although limited in patient number and length of follow up, intravitreal bevacizumab appears to effectively decrease ME associated with RVO. Visual acuity showed a trend toward improvement but did not reach statistical significance.
Keywords: vascular occlusion/vascular occlusive disease • macula/fovea