Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the effect of intravitreal bevacizumab for the treatment of remaining CNV activity following combination therapy (PDT and intravitreal triamcinolone).
Methods: :
Thirty two patients suffering from remaining CNV activity following combination therapy were included in this prospective, non–comparative, interventional case series. The patients presented with a slight remaining CNV activity which was not–ambiguous in regression and with poor measurably remaining activity. All patients were evaluated by means of fluorescein angiography. In addition, retinal thickness was measured by means of optical coherence tomography (Stratus OCT 3). Visual acuity was obtained using EDTRS charts. All patients were treated with 1.25 mg intravitreal bevacizumab.
Results: :
The mean age of the patients was 76 years. The mean follow–up was 8 weeks (up to 14 weeks). Baseline visual acuity (VA) ranged from 1.5 logMAR (20/800) to 0.3 logMAR (20/40) with a mean of 0.9 logMAR (20/160). An improvement of visual acuity (VA) of 0.5 (P<0.05) lines was observed comparing last follow up visit VA with baseline VA. At last follow up the mean central retinal thickness was reduced by 111 µm (P<0.01) as compared to central retinal thickness measured at baseline. No adverse events were observed in this case series.
Conclusions: :
Following combination therapy slight remaining CNV activity with retinal edema which requires no additional PDT can be effectively treated by one intravitreal injection of bevacizumab. This approach results in both, CNV activity regression with resolution of edema and visual acuity increase. Extended follow up will be reported.
Keywords: choroid: neovascularization • growth factors/growth factor receptors • age-related macular degeneration