Article
Effect of intravitreal bevacizumab on retinal pigment epithelium detachment due to occult choroidal neovascularisation
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Published: | June 29, 2009 |
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Outline
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Purpose: To determine the effect of intravitreal bevacizumab on pigment epithelium detachment (PED) due to occult choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Methods: 71 eyes with PED and additional intra- and/or subretinal fluid (IRF) due to occult CNV received 1.25 mg bevacizumab intravitreally. Baseline and follow-up visits included visual acuity (VA), ophthalmologic and Stratus-OCT examination. Re-injections were performed if IRF persisted, PED increased or VA decreased (>1 line on EDTRS charts). Changes in PED height were measured with computer assisted software.
Results: 71 eyes of 67 patients (75.8±6.4 years) received 3±1.8 injections during 39.4±26.6 weeks follow-up. At last visit, VA was stabilized (0.53±0.28 vs. 0.54±0.45 logMAR; p=0.864) while PED height decreased slightly (303±183 vs. 260±185 µm; p=0.055). In 54% PED height decreased (group 1), while in 46% PED height remained stable or increased (group 2). At baseline, group 1 had a significant worse VA (0.60±0.26 vs. 0.44±0.26 logMAR; p=0.008) and a significant larger PED height (356±180 vs. 241±170 µm; p=0.003). In four eyes (5.6%) PED flattened completely.
Conclusions: Half of the patients benefit of PED flattening during treatment period. In particular distinct PED respond to intravitreal bevacizumab. Intravitreal bevacizumab might stabilize visual acuity in occult CNV and PED, but PED flattening does not correlate with increase of VA automatically.