The Therapeutic Effects of Bevacizumab in Patients with Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy.
- Author:
Sun Young LEE
1
;
June Gone KIM
;
Soo Geun JOE
;
Hyewon CHUNG
;
Young Hee YOON
Author Information
- Publication Type:Case Reports ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords: Intravitreal bevacizumab; Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy; Photodynamic therapy
- MeSH: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Angiogenesis Inhibitors/adverse effects/*therapeutic use; Antibodies, Monoclonal/adverse effects/*therapeutic use; Choroid/*blood supply/pathology; Coloring Agents/diagnostic use; Combined Modality Therapy; Female; Fluorescein Angiography; Humans; Indocyanine Green/diagnostic use; Injections; Male; Middle Aged; Peripheral Vascular Diseases/diagnosis/*drug therapy/physiopathology; *Photochemotherapy; Pilot Projects; Retrospective Studies; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Treatment Outcome; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/antagonists & inhibitors; Visual Acuity/physiology; Vitreous Body
- From:Korean Journal of Ophthalmology 2008;22(2):92-99
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal bevacizumab for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). METHODS: In this retrospective interventional pilot study, 12 eyes of 11 patients with active PCV were treated with intravitreal bevacizumab (1.25 mg) alone or in combination with photodynamic therapy (PDT) depending on the informed patient's choice. Intravitreal bevacizumab was repeated at 6-week intervals until the regression of active lesion was detected on fluorescein angiography (FA) which was done on a regular basis, Indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) analyses. RESULTS: Intravitreal bevacizumab was given alone in 8 eyes (Group 1) and in combination with PDT in 4 eyes (Group 2). Mean follow-up duration was 17 weeks in group 1 and 15 weeks in group 2 after bevacizumab treatment. The mean number of bevacizumab injections was 2.2 in group 1 and 2.5 in group 2. Mean BCVA improved from 20/63 to 20/40 in group 1 and 20/63 to 20/32 in group 2. Of all eyes, the BCVA improved by > or =2 lines in seven (58%) eyes and resolution of fluid and hemorrhages in clinical examination, an absence of leakage on repeat FAs, or resolved pigment epithelial detachment (PED) and/or subretinal fluid (SRF) on OCT exam was confirmed in 10 (83%) eyes. Partial or complete regression of the polypoidal vessels and interconnecting vessels was reported for most cases at the last follow-up. No significant ocular or systemic side effects were observed in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term results indicate that intravitreal bevacizumab (1.25 mg) alone or in combination with PDT is well tolerated and associated with improvement in BCVA and reduced angiographic leakage in most patients. Further evaluation of intravitreal bevacizumab therapy for the treatment of PCV is warranted.
