Abstract
Purpose::
to evaluate the safety of intravitreal injection of Bevacizumab (Avastin, Roche) in a case series.
Methods::
the authors retrospectively evaluated 285 consecutive intravitreal injections of Bevacizumab (1, 25 mg, 0, 05 ml) performed in 174 patients from December 2005 till November 2006. Before injection best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and intraocular pression (IOP) were tested; patients were visited to exclude infections of the adnexa (blefaritis ect.). All patients underwent fluorescein angiography (FA). Patients were visited soon after the injection and after one week: FA was repeated after 45 days.
Results::
in 285 injection we found 2 cases of mild uveitis (0,7%), 2 retinal pigment epithelium tears (0,7%), 2 cases of vitreous haemorrhage (0,7%). Minor adverse events such conjunctival haemorrhage and punctate keratopathy were frequent (respectively 97 and 74 cases, 34% and 25,9%) and resolved within the 7th day visit. Transient raised IOP (increase between 4- 10 mmhg) verified in 53 (18.5%) injections.No case of retinal detachment or endophthalmitis existed. No systemic adverse event was reported.
Conclusions::
In this small case series the risk of intravitreal injection of bevacizumab doesn’t exceed the reported risk of other kinds of intravitreal injection; adverse events seems to be mostly related to the preexisting condition of the retina or to the injection procedure.
Keywords: drug toxicity/drug effects • retinal pigment epithelium • endophthalmitis