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Br J Ophthalmol 2009;93:305-309 doi:10.1136/bjo.2008.145912
  • Clinical science
    • Original Article

Twelve-month short-term safety and visual-acuity results from a multicentre prospective study of epiretinal strontium-90 brachytherapy with bevacizumab for the treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation secondary to age-related macular degeneration

  1. M P Ávila1,
  2. M E Farah2,
  3. A Santos3,
  4. J P Duprat2,
  5. B W Woodward4,
  6. J Nau4
  1. 1
    Centro de Referência em Oftalmologia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
  2. 2
    Departamento de Oftalmologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
  3. 3
    Centro de Retina Médica y Quirúrgica, SC, Centro Medico Puerta de Hierro, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
  4. 4
    NeoVista, Fremont, California, USA
  1. Dr M P Ávila, Centro Brasileiro de Cirurgia de Olhos, CEP 74210-010 Goiânia—Goiás, Brazil; retina{at}cbco.com.br
  • Accepted 22 October 2008
  • Published Online First 19 November 2008

Abstract

Background/aims: This study evaluated the short-term safety and feasibility of epiretinal strontium-90 brachytherapy delivered concomitantly with intravitreal bevacizumab for the treatment of subfoveal CNV due to AMD for 12 months. A 3-year follow-up is planned.

Methods: In this prospective, non-randomised, multicentre study, 34 treatment-naïve patients with predominantly classic, minimally classic and occult subfoveal CNV lesions received a single treatment with 24 Gy beta radiation (strontium-90) and two injections of the anti-VEGF antibody bevacizumab. Adverse events were observed. BCVA was measured using standard ETDRS vision charts.

Results: Twelve months after treatment, no radiation-associated adverse events were observed. In the intent-to-treat (ITT) population, 91% of patients lost <3 lines (15 ETDRS letters) of vision at 12 months, 68% improved or maintained their BCVA at 12 months, and 38% gained ≥3 lines. The mean change in BCVA observed at month 12 was a gain of 8.9 letters.

Conclusion: The safety and efficacy of intraocular, epiretinal brachytherapy delivered concomitantly with anti-VEGF therapy for the treatment of subfoveal CNV secondary to AMD were promising in this small study population. Long-term safety will be assessed for 3 years. This regimen is being evaluated in a large, multicentre, phase III study.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: BWW and JN are employed by NeoVista, and have a proprietary interest in the investigational device.

  • Ethics approval: Ethics approval was provided by Centro Oftalmologico Ethics Committee, São Paulo, Brazil; Centro Brasileiro de Cirurgia de Oihos Ethics Committee, Goina, Brazil; and Universidad de Guadalajara Ethics Committee, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.

  • Patient consent: Obtained.

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