Optical Coherence Tomography Findings After an Intravitreal Injection of Bevacizumab (Avastin®) for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Abstract

Abstract. To determine whether intravitreal bevacizumab could improve optical coherence tomography and visual acuity outcomes in a patient with neovascular age-related macular degeneration who was responding poorly to pegaptanib therapy, an intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (1.0 mg) was given. Within 1 week, optical coherence tomography revealed resolution of the subretinal fluid, resulting in a normal-appearing macular contour. The improved macular appearance was maintained for at least 4 weeks, and visual acuity remained stable. No inflammation was observed. An intravitreal injection of bevacizumab may provide an effective, safe, and inexpensive option for patients with age-related macular degeneration who are losing vision secondary to macular neovascularization. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging 2005;36:331-335.]

Changes in neovascular choroidal morphology after intravitreal bevacizumab injection: prospective trial on 156 eyes throughout 12-month follow-up

“…It plays a role as a choroidal survival factor for the choriocapillaris, maintaining the permeability and the fenestration of the vessels. This antigen-binding monoclonal antibody has been found effective to get anatomic and functional outcomes in patients with neovascular ARMD [10][11][12][13].…”

Changes in choriocapillaris fenestration of rat eyes after intravitreal bevacizumab injection

“…The molecules can penetrate the retina, and they are also transported into the retinal pigment epithelium, the choroid, and, in particular, into the photoreceptor outer segments after an intravitreal injection [6]. Clinically, bevacizumab has been administered intravitreally in VEGF-mediated diseases, such as choroidal neovascularization, central retinal occlusion, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and other retinal diseases [7][8][9][10]. Many reports suggest that bevacizumab is useful in helping to reduce and ultimately cause the disappearance of newly formed abnormal vessels [7,8,11,12].…”

Injection of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) as a preoperative adjunct before vitrectomy surgery in the treatment of severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR)

“…It is a full-length recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody directed against VEGF, approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]. The antiangiogenic properties of bevacizumab, administered via intravenous infusion or intravitreal injection, have been studied in patients with age-related macular degeneration, choroidal neovascularization, macular edema from central retinal vein occlusion [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28].…”