Short-Term Safety and Efficacy of Intravitreal Bevacizumab for Retinal Angiomatous Proliferation Secondary to Age Related Macular Degeneration

Abstract

Purpose:: To evaluate the short-term efficacy and safety of intravitreal injection of bevacizumab in patients with retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP).

Methods:: Ten eyes of 10 patients with retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP) were treated with intravitreal injections of 1.25 mg (0,05 ml) of bevacizumab and evaluated by complete ophthalmologic examination, including optical coherence tomography (OCT3 stratus algorhitm), fluorescein and ICG angiography (FAG/ICG), MP1 and FERG and followed for six months. The fellow eye was used as control.The main parameters measured were the changes in visual acuity, central foveal thickness, MP1 sensibility and FERG.

Results:: All patients showed a stable intraocular pressure (IOP), mean IOP during the follow-up: 15±2 mmHg. Our findings revealed an average improvement of visual acuity of 0,20 mean LogMAR units (±0,03 SE). When compared to baseline values, mean FERG amplitude and OCT foveal thickness increased at the end of the study. Mean foveal and perifoveal sensitivity raised from baseline of 3,2 dB (±0,03 SE). Fluorescein and ICG angiography demonstrated a significant leakage reduction during the follow-up.

Conclusions:: Intravitreal injection of bevacizumab in the treatment of RAP did not reveal any short-term local or systemic side effects. Visual acuity, foveal thickness by OCT valuation, FAG/ICG improved; microperimetry sensibility and fixation raised at six month follow-up.

Keywords: retinal neovascularization • macula/fovea • imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound)