Abstract: Purpose: To assess the 12-month efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injection for occult choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: In this retrospective, interventional case series, sixty-eight treatment-naïve AMD patients, affected by subfoveal occult CNV evidencing recent disease progression, were monitored during IVB protocol. Patients received one initial IVB injection (1.25 mg/0.05 ml), and further re-treatment on a monthly basis only when necessary according to a standardized as-required regimen, until no significant signs of CNV activity were present. Main outcome measures were the modifications in bestcorrected visual acuity (BCVA), and in central retinal thickness (CRT) measured by optical coherence tomography. Results: In respect of baseline, at the 12-month check mean BCVA increased from 0.82 to 0.45 logMAR, and mean CRT decreased from 517.0 to 306.5 micron (p values < 0.01). To achieve these benefits, the required mean IVB number was lowered from 3.87 in the first 6 months to 1.085 in the second ones. A better final BCVA was correlated with greater BCVA (p < 0.005) and lesser CRT (p < 0.05) at baseline. Conclusions: In AMD patients with progressive occult CNV, the first-line IVB administration represents a useful therapeutic option, especially considering its lower cost in comparison with other antiangiogenic drugs.
Intravitreal bevacizumab for treatment-naïve patients with subfoveal occult choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration: a 12-month follow-up study
PARMEGGIANI, Francesco
2009
Abstract
Abstract: Purpose: To assess the 12-month efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injection for occult choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: In this retrospective, interventional case series, sixty-eight treatment-naïve AMD patients, affected by subfoveal occult CNV evidencing recent disease progression, were monitored during IVB protocol. Patients received one initial IVB injection (1.25 mg/0.05 ml), and further re-treatment on a monthly basis only when necessary according to a standardized as-required regimen, until no significant signs of CNV activity were present. Main outcome measures were the modifications in bestcorrected visual acuity (BCVA), and in central retinal thickness (CRT) measured by optical coherence tomography. Results: In respect of baseline, at the 12-month check mean BCVA increased from 0.82 to 0.45 logMAR, and mean CRT decreased from 517.0 to 306.5 micron (p values < 0.01). To achieve these benefits, the required mean IVB number was lowered from 3.87 in the first 6 months to 1.085 in the second ones. A better final BCVA was correlated with greater BCVA (p < 0.005) and lesser CRT (p < 0.05) at baseline. Conclusions: In AMD patients with progressive occult CNV, the first-line IVB administration represents a useful therapeutic option, especially considering its lower cost in comparison with other antiangiogenic drugs.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
