J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2008 Aug;49(8):1275-1282. 10.3341/jkos.2008.49.8.1275.

Results of Intravitreal Bevacizumab for Macular Edema with Retinal Vein Occlusion and Diabetic Macular Edema

• Kim JY
• Kweon EY
• Lee DW
• Cho NC

• KMID: 2211732
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2008.49.8.1275

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the short-term effect and safety of intravitreally injected bevacizumab in patients with macular edema (ME) caused by retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and diabetic macular edema (DME).
METHODS
We retrospectively evaluated 59 eyes of 51 patients, 29 with ME caused by RVO and 30 with DME, who received intravitreal injection of bevacizumab. Fifty-one consecutive patients (59 eyes) with ME associated with RVO and DME were treated with intravitreal injections of 1.25-2.5 mg (0.05-0.1 ml) of bevacizumab. Ophthalmic evaluation was performed at baseline and at 1, 3, 6 months after each injection. Clinical evidence of toxicity and complications, changes of visual acuity with an ETDRS chart (LogMAR), and central macular thickness (CMT) using optical coherence tomography (OCT), were evaluated.
RESULTS
The follow-up period was 7.3 months (7.3+/-0.31) and the mean number of injections was 1.2. The baseline mean LogMAR was 1.06+/-0.53 and mean CMT was 479.6+/-160.4 micrometer. At 1, 3 and 6 months, the mean LogMAR was 0.90+/-0.52, 0.80+/-0.39 and 0.78+/-0.39, respectively, and the mean CMT was 316.9+/-86.7 micrometer, 281.1+/-67.4 micrometer and 278.4+/-64.6 micrometer, respectively. No adverse incidents were observed, including cataract, retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage, and endophthalmitis, although transient increased intraocular pressure was observed.
CONCLUSIONS
Intravitreal bevacizumab injections are safe and effective in ME caused by RVO and DME.

Keyword

Bevacizumab (Avastin(R)); Macular edema; Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)

MeSH Terms

Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
Cataract
Endophthalmitis
Eye
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Intraocular Pressure
Intravitreal Injections
Macular Edema
Retinal Detachment
Retinal Vein
Retinal Vein Occlusion
Retinaldehyde
Retrospective Studies
Tomography, Optical Coherence
Visual Acuity
Vitreous Hemorrhage
Bevacizumab
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
Retinaldehyde

Figure

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  Figure 1. Changes in LogMAR after intravitreal bevacizumab injections, according to macular edema etiology; DME=diabetic macular edema; ME=macular edema; RVO=retinal vein occlusion.

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  Figure 2. Changes of central macular thickness with optical coherence tomography (OCT) after intravitreal bevacizumab injections. DME=diabetic macular edema; ME=macular edema; RVO= retinal vein occlusion.

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  Figure 3. The relationship between visual acuity increase and macular thickness decrease (%) at 6 months after intravitreal bevacizumab injections.

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