Short-term efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab for the treatment of macular edema due to diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein occlusion

Purpose: To evaluate the short-term efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab injection for the management of macular edema due to diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein occlusion. Methods: Patients with macular edema due to diabetic retinopathy, and retinal vein occlusion were treated with intravitreal bevacizumab and evaluated retrospectively. Standardized ophthalmic evaluation, ETDRS visual acuity measurement, and central macular thickness were performed at baseline and 1 month intervals after injection. Results: There were 23 eyes of 21 patients with macular edema due to diabetic retinopathy (14 eyes of 12 patients), and retinal vein occlusion (9 eyes of 9 patients). The mean baseline logMAR visual acuity and central macular thickness were 0.82 ± 0.27 and 604.71 ± 123.62 μm, respectively, in patients with diabetic retinopathy. There was no statistically significant difference between the mean logMAR visual acuity (P = 0.22) and central retinal thickness (P = 0.16) measurements at baseline and 3 months follow-up. The mean baseline logMAR visual acuity and central macular thickness were 0.94 ± 0.48 and 557 ± 113.9 μm, respectively, in patients with retinal vein occlusion. There was a statistically significant difference between the mean logMAR visual acuity and central retinal thickness measurements at baseline and 3 months follow-up (P < 0.01). Almost all of the eyes (88.8%) regained normal foveal configuration. Conclusions: Although our follow-up period was short and the number of patients were limited to provide specific treatment recommendations, intravitreal bevacizumab seems to be more effective for macular edema due to retinal vein occlusion than diabetic macular edema. The favorable short-term results suggest further study is needed.     

Multifocal electroretinogram findings after intravitreal bevacizumab injection in choroidal neovascularization of age-related macular degeneration

Purpose

To evaluate the changes in multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) after intravitreal bevacizumab injection in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods

Twenty-one eyes with choroidal neovascularization secondary to AMD were studied before and after intravitreal bevacizumab injection for best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), OCT, and mfERG.

Results

The BCVA improved, while central macular thickness and total macular volume in OCT decreased after intravitreal bevacizumab injection (p = 0.03, 0.01, and 0.01, respectively). In mfERG, the amplitude of P1, and implicit time of P1 and N1 indicated a statistically significant improvement of retinal response after intravitreal bevacizumab injection.

Conclusions

There is a potential role for mfERG in evaluating the effect on retinal function of intravitreal bevacizumab injection.     

Intraocular bevacizumab for macular edema due to CRVO. A multifocal-ERG and OCT study

Purpose To evaluate by multifocal electroretinography (MFERG) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) the effectiveness of intravitreal use of bevacizumab (Avastin) in the treatment of macular edema due to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). Methods A total of 10 eyes of 10 patients (six males and four females) with macular edema due to CRVO were studied before and after intravitreal use of bevacizumab with MFERG and OCT. The post treatment follow-up was 3 months. Examination included measurement of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) for distance, measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP), fluorescein angiography, foveal-retinal thickness measurement by OCT, and MFERG recordings before treatment and 1 and 3 months after treatment. Results Before treatment, OCT shows an increase of the retinal thickness of the fovea. About 1 and 3 months after treatment the foveal thickness decreased to a significant level. The electrical responses in the fovea and parafovea of the MFERG recording depicted a significant improvement at 1 and 3 months after the injection. No patient manifested IOP increase. Conclusion The intravitreal use of bevacizumab may provide anatomical and functional amelioration of the macula in patients with macular edema due to CRVO. However, further study is needed in order to assess the treatment’s long-term efficacy.     

Clinical,anatomical, and electrophysiological assessments of the central retina following intravitreal bevacizumab for macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the long-term visual, anatomical and electrophysiological outcomes of repeated intravitreal injections of bevacizumab for macular edema due to retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and investigate any possible toxic effects on the central fovea. This is a prospective, noncomparative, interventional case series. Thirty-three eyes of 33 patients with macular edema secondary to RVO were treated with 1.25 mg/0.05 ml intravitreal bevacizumab. Nine patients had nonischemic central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) and 24 patients had branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). The main outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity, central retinal thickness (CRT), and multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) responses changes at baseline, 1 month after the third injection and at the end of the 2-year long follow-up period. Patients with CRVO had mean best-corrected Snellen visual acuity of 0.10 at baseline, which improved significantly to 0.31 after 2 years (P = 0. 028).The mean CRT at presentation was 756.28 μm and reduced significantly to 439.14 μm after 2 years (P = 0.05). Patients with BRVO had mean best-corrected Snellen visual acuity of 0.19 at baseline, which improved significantly to 0.40 after 2 years (P < 0.001). The mean CRT at presentation was 681.04 μm and reduced significantly to 369.81 μm after 2 years (P < 0.001). Mean mfERG responses within central 10° (ring1, ring2) showed statistically significant differences on P1 parameters in terms of response density and implicit time after 2 years in both CRVO and BRVO patients. Repeated intravitreal bevacizumab injections for macular edema due to either CRVO or BRVO resulted in long-term improvement of visual acuity, a reduction in CRT and statistically significant changes in the mfERG responses with nondemonstrable toxic effects on the central fovea.     

Intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) treatment of macular edema in central retinal vein occlusion: a short-term study

PURPOSE: To report the short term anatomic and visual acuity response after intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech) in patients with macular edema due to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). METHODS: The authors conducted a retrospective study of patients with macular edema due to CRVO who were treated with at least one intravitreal injection of bevacizumab 1.25 mg in 0.05 mL. Patients underwent Snellen visual acuity testing, optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging, and ophthalmoscopic examination at baseline and follow-up visits. RESULTS: There were 16 eyes of 15 consecutive patients with a mean age of 76.1 years (SD 9.8 years). Intravitreal triamcinolone had been previously administered to 9 patients, but all of these patients either had no improvement or had excessive intraocular pressure caused by the triamcinolone. The patients received a mean of 2.8 injections of bevacizumab per eye. No adverse events were observed, including endophthalmitis, clinically evident inflammation, increased intraocular pressure, retinal tears, retinal detachment, or thromboembolic events in any patient. The mean central macular thickness at baseline was 887 microm and decreased to a mean of 372 microm at month 1 (P < 0.001). The mean baseline acuity was 20/600 (logMAR = 1.48) and the mean acuity at month 1 was 20/200 (logMAR = 1.05), a difference that was highly significant (P = 0.001). At last follow-up, a mean of 3 months after the first injection, the mean visual acuity was 20/138 (logMAR = 0.84), which was significantly better than baseline (P < 0.001). Visual acuity improvement, defined as a halving of the visual angle, was seen in 14 of the 16 eyes. CONCLUSION: Initial treatment results of patients with macular edema secondary to CRVO did not reveal any short-term safety concerns. Intravitreal bevacizumab resulted in a significant decrease in macular edema and improvement in visual acuity. The number of patients in this pilot study was limited and the follow-up is too short to make any specific treatment recommendations, but the favorable short-term results suggest further study is needed.     

康柏西普对RVO继发黄斑水肿患者黄斑区视网膜血管密度的影响

目的：评价视网膜静脉阻塞(RVO)继发黄斑水肿抗血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)治疗前后黄斑区视网膜血管密度的变化。

方法：回顾性病例对照研究。选取2018-04/06临床确诊为RVO继发黄斑水肿患者23例,给予玻璃体腔注射0.5mg/0.05mL康柏西普。对比治疗前后BCVA以及行OCTA检查,软件自动识别及测量治疗前后CMT和浅层视网膜毛细血管网血管长度密度和灌注密度的变化。

结果：随访时间为1mo,治疗后BCVA较治疗前提高(P<0.05),CMT较治疗前降低(P<0.05),治疗后浅层视网膜毛细血管网中位于中心凹、旁中心凹及总区域的血管长度密度和灌注密度与治疗前均无差异(P>0.05)。

结论：单次抗VEGF治疗RVO继发黄斑水肿在短期内BCVA和CMT明显好转,并且未加重黄斑缺血。     

Short-term safety and efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) for neovascular age-related macular degeneration

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech Inc.) for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on consented patients with neovascular ARMD receiving intravitreal bevacizumab therapy. All patients received intravitreal bevacizumab at baseline with additional monthly injections given at the discretion of the treating physician. At each visit, a routine Snellen visual acuity assessment was performed followed by an ophthalmic examination and optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging. RESULTS: Fifty-three eyes of 50 patients received an intravitreal bevacizumab injection between May and August 2005. Including the month 3 visit, the average number of injections was 2.3 out of a maximum of 4 injections. No serious drug-related ocular or systemic adverse events were identified. Improvements in visual acuity and central retinal thickness measurements were evident by week 1 and continued through month 3. At month 3, the mean visual acuity improved from 20/160 to 20/125 (P < 0.001) and the mean central retinal thickness decreased by 99.6 microm (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Off-label intravitreal bevacizumab therapy for neovascular ARMD was well tolerated over 3 months with improvements in visual acuity and OCT central retinal thickness measurements. While the long-term safety and efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab remain unknown, these short-term results suggest that intravitreal bevacizumab may be the most cost effective therapy for the treatment of neovascular ARMD.     

Clinical, anatomic, and electrophysiologic evaluation following intravitreal bevacizumab for macular edema in retinal vein occlusion

PURPOSE: To investigate clinical, anatomic, and electrophysiologic response after single intravitreal injection of bevacizumab for macular edema attributable to retinal vein occlusion. DESIGN: Prospective nonrandomized, interventional case series. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with macular edema attributable to vein occlusion received intravitreal injection of bevacizumab 1.25 mg. Nine patients had central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), and 12 patients had branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). Complete ophthalmic examination including optical coherence tomography (OCT) was done at baseline and follow-up visits. Fifteen patients underwent fluorescein angiography at baseline. Selected patients underwent electroretinography (ERG) and visual evoked potential (VEP) at baseline and follow-up. Follow-up was for 12 weeks. RESULTS: At baseline, mean visual acuity was 20/381 (median, 20/400) and showed improvement to mean 20/135 (median, 20/60) after one month, (P = .001). At 12 weeks, mean visual acuity was 20/178 (median, 20/80) (P = .001). The mean central retinal thickness (CRT) was 647.81 microm (median, 609.00 microm) at baseline and decreased to mean 293.43 microm (median, 222.00 microm) at one month (P = .001). At 12 weeks, mean CRT was 320.90 mum (median, 280.00 microm) (P = .001). ERG and VEP showed no worsening of the waveforms. There was no significant difference in the visual outcome between the BRVO and CRVO groups. CONCLUSION: Intravitreal injection of bevacizumab appears to result in significant short-term improvement of visual acuity and macular edema secondary to vein occlusion. The present report confirms the previous studies. No ocular toxicity or adverse effects were observed. However, prospective, randomized, controlled long-term studies are required with an adequate number of patients.     

玻璃体腔内注射曲安奈德与贝伐单抗治疗白内障术后黄斑水肿的疗效

目的：：评价曲安奈德和贝伐单抗玻璃体腔注射治疗白内障术后黄斑水肿的疗效,为临床安全有效用药提供参考。方法：选择2012-03/2014-03在我院眼科确诊为黄斑水肿的患者92例92眼为研究对象,按照玻璃体腔注射用药不同,分为曲安奈德组44例44眼和贝伐单抗组48例48眼,术后随访9mo,比较两组患者在不同时间点的最佳矫正视力、黄斑中央视网膜平均厚度和眼内压情况。结果：术后随访9mo,两组患者术后的最佳矫正视力均比术前提高,但组间无统计学意义(P>0.05);经重复测量方差分析,两组患者的黄斑中央视网膜厚度无统计学意义(P>0.05)。曲安奈德组术后各时间点与术前的黄斑中央视网膜厚度差异具有统计学意义( t=9.16,8.27,5.44,5.87,4.62,P<0.05),贝伐单抗组术后各时间点的斑中央视网膜厚度均比术前降低,具有统计学意义( t=8.11,5.12,4.16,3.27,2.88,P<0.05);曲安奈德组有7例患者发生眼压升高,并发为青光眼,贝伐单抗组患者未见眼压异常。结论：曲安奈德和贝伐单抗均可提高黄斑水肿患者的矫正视力,改善毛细血管的渗漏情况,但贝伐单抗不会引起眼压升高,能避免其他并发症的发生,安全性更高。     

玻璃体腔内注射康柏西普治疗视网膜静脉阻塞继发黄斑水肿

目的：观察玻璃体腔内注射康柏西普治疗视网膜静脉阻塞( retinal vein occlusion,RVO)继发黄斑水肿的临床效果及安全性。方法：回顾性观察我院2016-01/03间收治的RVO继发黄斑水肿的患者22例22眼,3 mo内给予3次玻璃体腔内注射康柏西普0.05mL(0.5mg),比较治疗前后患者的视力变化情况,光学相干断层扫描( OCT )检查,眼底荧光造影( FFA)及眼底出血吸收情况。结果：所选患者玻璃体内注射康柏西普在1wk,1、2、3mo后平均视力均有不同程度的提高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。 OCT图像显示黄斑中心凹视网膜厚度明显变薄,与治疗前相比差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗后3 mo检查FFA显示视网膜渗漏明显减轻,眼底出血明显吸收。结论：玻璃体腔内注射抗VEGF药物康柏西普治疗RVO继发的黄斑水肿疗效肯定,但远期疗效及注射药物的频率尚需进一步观察与探讨。     

A comparative study between intravitreal triamcinolone and bevacizumab for macular edema due to central retinal vein occlusion with poor vision

Aim:

To compare the effect of intravitreal bevacizumab and triamcinolone in patients with macular edema after central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), presenting with poor visual acuity.

Materials and Methods:

It was a retrospective, comparative case series of 38 consecutive eyes, with macular edema secondary to CRVO, with 20/200 or worse vision, which were treated primarily either with intravitreal bevacizumab (1.25 mg; 24 eyes) or intravitreal triamcinolone (4 mg; 14 eyes). During follow-up, 3.6 ± 0.8 re-injections of bevacizumab and 2.4 ± 0.5 re-injections of triamcinolone were administered (P = 0.080). The main outcome measures were the best-corrected visual acuity and the central macular thickness by optical coherence tomography during 12 months of follow-up.

Results:

At 12 months, visual acuity (logMAR) was changed from 1.03 ± 0.39 (baseline) to 0.92 ± 0.39 (P = 0.374) and the central macular thickness was reduced from a baseline of 713.6 ± 179.3 µm to 310.8 ± 205.2 µm (P = 0.000). Neither the bevacizumab nor triamcinolone groups varied significantly in visual acuity and central macular thickness at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment. Neovascular glaucoma developed in two of the 14 eyes (14%) in the triamcinolone group.

Conclusion:

In patients with CRVO and poor vision, intravitreal bevacizumab and intravitreal triamcinolone were associated with a reduction in macular edema; however, neither treatment achieved significant visual acuity improvement by the 12-month follow-up.     

抗血管内皮生长因子药物治疗糖尿病视网膜病变的研究现状

糖尿病可引起眼内血管内皮生长因子（vascularendothelialgrowthfactor,VEGF）水平病理性升高,导致眼内新生血管形成、黄斑水肿的发生。抗VEGF药物最早被用于湿性年龄相关性黄斑变性,现也被试验性地用于糖尿病视网膜病变（diabeticretinopathy,DR）。VEGFl65选择性拮抗剂Pe—gaptanib与VEGF—A单抗Ranibizumab被批准玻璃体内注射,且对DR有较好的疗效;VEGF．A全长抗体Bevacizumab被标示外用于玻璃体内注射治疗DR,也能达到较好的效果;重组融合蛋白Aflibercept针对DR的疗效也得到一些试验的支持。玻璃体内注射抗VEGF药物治疗DR已被证实短期有效且安全,但其长期的疗效与安全性有待更多的大规模临床试验来验证。     

血管内皮生长因子抑制剂球内注射治疗糖尿病性黄斑水肿

目的:评价玻璃体腔内注射1.25mg avastin治疗糖尿病性黄斑水肿(diabetic macular edema,DME)(糖尿病视网膜病变Ⅳ期和中期以上黄斑水肿)的临床效果与安全性。方法:选择我科2009-01/2010-12诊断为视力下降有临床治疗意义的糖尿病病变的患者60例(眼底荧光造影显示糖尿病视网膜病变Ⅳ期,以OCT检查显示中度以上黄斑水肿,黄斑水肿病史不超过3mo)。观察治疗前最佳矫正视力、眼压、裂隙灯及间接检眼镜检查,行彩色眼底照相、FFA,OCT检查。再观察治疗后第1,2,3d;3wk;3,6mo,视力的变化,眼压、晶状体、玻璃体、行眼底荧光造影观察视网膜渗漏情况,用TOPCON 3D-OCT检查术后视网膜的厚度进行比较。结果:玻璃体腔内注射avastin后,患者视力明显提高,视网膜中心黄斑平均厚度明显减低,由术前(395.933±119.784)μm至末次随诊为(314.200±60.528)μm,与术前相比差异有统计学意义。随访中未见眼压的异常改变,未发现白内障的加重,未发现与药物有关的视网膜毒性反应及其他局部和全身不良反应。结论:玻璃体腔内注射avastin糖尿病视网膜病变患者视力稳定提高,黄斑水肿明显消退,必要时可以连续注射治疗,但其远期治疗效果需要大样本的实验来进一步证实。     

The correlation between optical coherence tomographic features and severity of retinopathy,macular thickness and visual acuity in diabetic macular edema

Purpose To investigate the correlation between the features of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and the severity of concurrent retinopathy, central macular thickness (CMT), and best-corrected visual acuity in clinically significant diabetic macular edema.Methods In a prospective study, OCT was performed in 55 eyes of 55 patients with clinically significant diabetic macular edema, in 58 eyes of 30 patients with diabetes without retinopathy, and in 40 eyes of 21 healthy control subjects. The OCT features were categorized into: type 1, sponge-like retinal swelling; type 2, cystoid macular edema; type 3, serous retinal detachment; and type 4, vitreofoveal traction.Results The CMT in eyes with diabetic macular edema was significantly higher than in eyes of healthy controls or in eyes of diabetic patients without retinopathy (P < 0.001). Visual acuity correlated with CMT in diabetic macular edema (r = 0.558, P < 0.001). The prevalence of OCT type 1 was significantly higher in eyes with mild-to-moderate non-proliferative retinopathy (NPDR) than in eyes with severe NPDR to proliferative retinopathy (PDR) (P = 0.0069). The prevalence of OCT types 3 and 4 was significantly higher in eyes with severe NPDR to PDR than in eyes with mild-to-moderate NPDR (P = 0.0056). OCT type 1 showed the least CMT (P < 0.001) and the best visual acuity (P = 0.002).Conclusions There was a significant correlation between OCT patterns of clinically significant diabetic macular edema and severity of retinopathy, CMT, and visual acuity.     

Histological observation of trabecular meshwork in a patient with Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome—a new theory for the mechanism of ectropion uvea in congenital glaucoma

AIM: To analyze the clinical efficacy of intravitreal injection of ranibizumab on diabetic macular edema (DME) with multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: A total of 41 patients (41 eyes) with DME were treated with intravitreal injection of ranibizumab (IVR). The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), mfERG results, and OCT were analyzed to compare to the baselines, 1wk, 1 and 3mo after operation. RESULTS: The BCVA was significantly improved in all eyes at each time point (P<0.001). The macular area leakage and edema were reduced 1wk and 1mo after IVR, and the central fovea thickness (CFT) was significantly reduced compared to baseline (P<0.001). The mfERG, two-dimensional and three-dimensional images all showed that the macular fovea (1 ring) response density decreased, and the fovea and macular area spikes significantly decreased or disappeared. The amplitude density of the P1 wave was increased, and the latency of the P1 wave was shortened than preoperation (P<0.001). At 1wk and 1mo after the operation, there was a negative correlation between the amplitude density of P1 waves and CFT. CONCLUSION: OCT and mfERG fully demonstrate the importance of IVR for DME patients from the macular morphology and function, especially the significance of mfERG in this disease.     

Bevacizumab zur Therapie des Makulaödems infolge venöser retinaler Gefäßverschlüsse

BACKGROUND: Retinal vein occlusion often leads to macular edema as a result of an elevated level of intravitreal VEGF. We report on the anatomic and functional results after intravitreal bevacizumab injections in patients with retinal vein occlusion. METHODS: In a prospective study, 18 patients with central, and 22 patients with branch retinal vein occlusion, all of whom had persistent macular edema (>300 microm) received 2.5 mg intravitreal bevacizumab. ETDRS visual acuity, ophthalmic examination and stratus OCT were performed at baseline, 1 week after injection and then monthly. Further injections were given every 6 weeks in patients with persistent or recurring macular edema.RESULTS: The findings did not deteriorate in any of the 40 patients. The injections (mean of 2.6+/-1.4 injections/patient) were very well tolerated in all cases during a mean follow-up of 23+/-13 weeks. On the last visit, 73.3% of patients with central retinal vein occlusion and 76.5% of those with branch retinal vein occlusion were found to have significantly improved visual acuity (by at least 3 lines). Mean central retinal thickness had decreased from 921+/-264 to 239+/-66.2 microm in patients with central retinal vein occlusion, and from 678+/-221 to 236+/-78 microm in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion.CONCLUSIONS: Neither intraocular nor systemic side-effects were observed in this study after repeated intravitreal injections of 2.5 mg bevacizumab. Current results suggest that intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy is a promising option in macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion.     

Intravitreal bevacizumab (avastin) for central and hemicentral retinal vein occlusions: IBeVO study

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety, visual acuity changes, and morphologic effects associated with intravitreal bevacizumab injections for the management of macular edema due to ischemic central or hemicentral retinal vein occlusion (RVO). METHODS: In this prospective, open-label study, 7 consecutive patients (7 eyes) with macular edema associated with ischemic central or hemicentral RVO were treated with intravitreal injections of 2.0 mg (0.08 mL) of bevacizumab at 12-week intervals. Standardized ophthalmic evaluation was performed at baseline and at weeks 1, 6, and 12 after each injection. Clinical evidence of toxicity and complications as well as changes in logarithm of minimum angle of resolution Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT) and total macular volume (TMV) shown by optical coherence tomography (OCT), and dye leakage shown by fluorescein angiography were evaluated. RESULTS: The median age of the 7 patients was 65 years (range, 58-74 years), and the median duration of symptoms before injection was 7 months (range, 2.5-16 months). At baseline, mean BCVA was 1.21 (Snellen equivalent, approximately 20/320) in the affected eye. Mean baseline CMT and TMV were 730.1 microm and 17.1 mm(3), respectively. Fluorescein leakage was observed in the macula and affected retinal quadrants in all seven eyes. Six patients completed the 25-week follow-up examination with reinjections performed at weeks 12 and 24. The most common adverse events were conjunctival hyperemia and subconjunctival hemorrhage at the injection site. At the last follow-up, mean BCVA in the affected eye was 0.68 (Snellen equivalent, 20/100(+1). No patient had a decrease in BCVA. Mean CMT and TMV at the 25-week follow-up were 260.3 microm and 9.0 mm(3), respectively; fluorescein leakage within the macula and affected retinal quadrants as compared with baseline was markedly reduced in all patients. Coupled with fluorescein angiographic findings, OCT data suggest a trend of macular edema recurrence between 6 weeks and 12 weeks after injection. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal bevacizumab injections of 2.0 mg at 12-week intervals were well tolerated and were associated with short-term BCVA stabilization or improvement and favorable macular changes in all patients with ischemic RVO and associated macular edema.     

Early intravitreal bevacizumab for non‐ischaemic central retinal vein occlusion

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of early intravitreal bevacizumab injections for the treatment of macular oedema caused by non‐ischaemic central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). Methods: The study included 25 patients (25 eyes) with macular oedema caused by non‐ischaemic central retinal vein occlusion, who received three intravitreal injections of 1.5 mg bevacizumab with an interval of 6 weeks between the injections. Mean duration of central retinal vein occlusion prior to the first injection was 4.2 ± 3.6 days. All patients were re‐examined 1, 3 and 6 months after the first injection. The main outcome parameters were visual acuity and macular thickness, as measured by optical coherence tomography. Results: Mean visual acuity improved significantly from 0.97 ± 0.40 logMAR at baseline to 0.70 ± 0.42 logMAR (P = 0.007) at 1 month, 0.69 ± 0.46 (P = 0.006) 3 months and 0.69 ± 0.52 (P = 0.015) 6 months after the first injection. Mean central retinal thickness decreased significantly from 530 ± 152 μm at baseline to 347 ± 127 μm (P < 0.001) at 1 month, 370 ± 165 μm (P < 0.001) 3 months and 346 ± 129 μm (P < 0.001) 6 months (P < 0.001) after the first injection. The increase in visual acuity correlated significantly (P < 0.01) with the decrease in macular thickness. Mean intraocular pressure was 14.2 ± 3.2 mmHg at baseline and did not differ significantly from the measurement obtained at 1 month (P = 0.59), 3 months (P = 0.88) and 6 months after the first injection (P = 0.65). Conclusion: Intravitreal bevacizumab injections given shortly after onset of non‐ischaemic central retinal vein occlusion may result in a significant increase in vision and a corresponding decrease in macular oedema.     

Intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) in the treatment of macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion

PURPOSE: To report the authors' experience after intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech) injection in patients with macular edema (ME) secondary to branch retinal vein occlusive disease (BRVO). METHODS: A consecutive retrospective review of patients with ME secondary to BRVO who were treated with intravitreal bevacizumab (1.25 mg/0.05 mL). Patients underwent complete ophthalmic evaluation, which included nonstandardized Snellen visual acuity testing, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and/or angiographic testing at baseline and follow-up visits. RESULTS: There were 27 consecutive patients who received intravitreal bevacizumab injections. The mean length of follow-up was 5.3 months (median 6 months, range 3-8 months). The mean visual acuity improved from 20/200(-) at baseline to 20/100(-) at 1 month and 20/100(+) at 3 months and last follow-up (P < 0.001). The mean central 1 mm macular thickness was 478 microm at baseline and decreased to 310, 336, and 332 microm at 1 month, 3 months, and last follow-up (P < 0.001). Patients received an average of two injections (range one to three). No adverse side effects were observed following injections. CONCLUSION: The observed anatomic (by ophthalmic examination, OCT, and/or fluorescence angiography) and visual acuity improvements and lack of serious adverse side effects after intravitreal bevacizumab injection demonstrates, in principle, the potential of bevacizumab for the treatment of ME in this setting.     

Prospective microperimetry and OCT evaluation of efficacy of repeated intravitreal bevacizumab injections for persistent clinically significant diabetic macular edema

To prospectively investigate morphologic and functional changes after intravitreal bevacizumab for persistent diffuse and clinically significant diabetic macular edema. In total, 26 eyes in 26 patients were treated with three intravitreal injections of bevacizumab (Avastin?) given at 4-week intervals. Study parameters included: visual acuity (VA), perceived visual improvement, central macular thickness as measured by Spectralis OCT, macular sensitivity and fixation pattern as measured by MP-1 microperimetry, and the incidence of ocular and systemic side-effects. At the time of follow-up, 76.9 % of eyes showed a significant improvement in VA (p = 0.012), 38.4 % showed a one-line improvement on the ETDRS chart compared with VA at day 0, 30.7 % showed a two-line improvement, and 7.6 % showed at least a three-line improvement. The mean central macular thickness was 447 microns at day 0 and 311.1 microns at follow-up (p = 0.003). The mean baseline macular sensitivity, by MP-1 microperimetry, was 8.29 dB; at follow -up, macular sensitivity had improved to 14.26 dB (p = 0.025). These results support further controlled trials on the efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab in treating diabetic macular edema. Microperimetry and OCT are important tools in managing diabetic patients, providing a detailed study of the macular region, particularly when it is necessary to monitor the morphological and functional outcome after various interventions. A good correlation between retinal sensitivity and perceived visual performance was found.