Abstract
Purpose: :
To measure visual acuity response of patients with neovascular age–related macular degeneration treated with intraocular bevicazumab (Avastin).
Methods: :
A retrospective study of forty nine consecutive eyes treated with intra–ocular bevicazumab from August 2005 to November 2005 were evaluated. Over 90% of the patients were previously treated with thermal laser, ocular photodynamic therapy and/or pegaptanib (Macugen) and were refractory to further treatment. Consent was obtained on all patients prior to off–label use of bevicazumab. Patient charts were reviewed for visual acuity of the treated eye before bevicazumab treatment, and at one month post treatment. Patients were evaluated one week after injection for uveitis.
Results: :
At one week, and at each follow up visit, none of the patients developed (showed) signs of uveitis. At one month follow up, 43% of patients treated showed an improvement of VA (visual acuity), 47% remained the same and 10% showed deterioration in VA (paired t test p=.013). There was a mean improvement in VA from 20/400 to 20/200 after one month. Of those patients with 20/100 or better VA (n=8), 62% showed an improvement of one line or better.
Conclusions: :
Despite a small sample size and limited length of follow–up, this study shows that bevicazumab has the potential to be valuable in treating neovascular age–related macular degeneration.
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • macula/fovea • neovascularization