Intravitreal Bevacizumab for the Treatment of CNV Not Associated to Age-related Macular Degeneration: Results of the Panamerican Collaborative Retina Study Group (PACORES)

Abstract

Purpose:: To evaluate visual acuity and anatomical outcomes after treatment with intravitreal Bevacizumab in patients with choroidal neovascularization not associated to age-related macular degeneration.

Methods:: Interventional retrospective multicenter study in 8 centers from 7 countries on patients with a choroidal neovascular membrane not associated to ARMD who were treated with one or more injections of 1.25 or 2.5 mg ofintravitreal Bevacizumab. Sixty nine eyes of 69 patients were included. Mean age was 52 yars with a range of 28-90 years.Etiologies of the CNV included myopia(27 eyes), Idiopathic (16 eyes), angioid streaks(10 eyes), inflammatory(4 eyes), central serous choroidopathy(4 eyes), parafoveal telangiectasias(3 eyes),other(3 eyes) and serpiginous choroidopathy(2 eyes). Best-corrected visual acuities, OCT measurements, fluorescein angiography, ophthalmoscopic examination and intraocular pressures were obtained at baseline and as needed in subsequent visits. Retreatment with Bevacizumab was performed if leakage and or fluid was present during the follow-up period. Follow-up ranged from 8-60 weeks with a mean of 24 weeks.

Results:: Baseline visual acuities ranged from 20/40 to 20/1250 with a mean of 20/250. Final visual acuities ranged from 20/20 to 20/1000 with a mean of 20/100. 69% of eyes showed an improvement of visual acuity of 2 or more lines, 29% remained unchanged and 3% showed decreased visual acuity. Mean baseline central foveal thickness by OCT was 374u and mean final thickness was 270u. Etiologies with the highest percentage of eyes showing improvement of visual acuity were myopia (78% ) and idiopathic (62%). Complications included subconjunctival hemorrhage in 2 eyes, ocular hypertension in 2 eyes and bacterial endophthalmitis in 1 eye.

Conclusions:: Intravitreal Bevacizumab appears to be effective in stabilizing and improving visual acuity outcomes in eyes with CNV not associated to ARMD

Keywords: choroid: neovascularization • retina