Purpose:
To retrospectively assess the short–term outcomes and complications of patients who received intravitreal Bevacizumab, an anti–vascular endothelial growth factor monoclonal antibody, for the treatment of retinal and choroidal vascular disease.
Methods:
Retrospective review of 69 patients who received a total of 102 intravitreal injections of Bevacizumab (1.25mg). Of the 69 patients, 63 had choroidal neovascularization from age–related macular degeneration (ARMD) (52), myopic degeneration (3), angioid streaks (4), and idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (4). The other six patients had a central or hemi retinal vein occlusion, diabetic retinopathy, or retinopathy complicating radiation. Visual acuity, retinal thickness and SLO–OCT imaging were performed before and after treatment. Potential side–effects and complications were noted.
Results:
Average age was 75.4 years with 58 % women and 42% men. 42% of patients experienced at least one or more lines of visual acuity improvement post–injection while the vision remained stable in 34%. 23.7% had one or more lines of vision loss with no patient losing more than two lines. Retinal thickness decreased and topography improved in all the patients despite visual acuity outcome. 2 cases of mild post–injection inflammation resolved without treatment were noted. There were no incidences of endophthalmitis or retinal detachment in our cohort.
Conclusions:
Treatment of retinal and choroidal vascular disease with intravitreal Bevacizumab appears to decrease retinal thickness and improve retinal surface SLO–OCT contour maps.Treatment appears to be well tolerated short term with no significant side–effects Larger prospective studies would be required to make more definitive and statistically significant conclusions.
Keywords: choroid: neovascularization • imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound) • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: outcomes/complications