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Intravitreal Avastin for macular oedema secondary to retinal vein occlusion: a prospective study
  1. K Kriechbaum1,
  2. S Michels2,
  3. F Prager1,
  4. M Georgopoulos1,
  5. M Funk1,
  6. W Geitzenauer1,
  7. U Schmidt-Erfurth1
  1. 1
    Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  2. 2
    Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
  1. S Michels, University Eye Hospital Zürich, Frauenklinikstrasse 24, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland; stephan.michels{at}usz.ch

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate efficacy and safety of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) in eyes with macular oedema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) or branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).

Methods: Twenty-eight consecutive patients (28 patients, 29 eyes, 8 CRVO, 21 BRVO) were enrolled in the study. Three intravitreal injections of 1 mg bevacizumab (0.04 ml) were administered at 4-week intervals; further retreatment was based on optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings. Follow-up examinations were done at days 1, 7 and 28 and at monthly intervals thereafter.

Results: Mean baseline central retinal thickness (CRT) in OCT was 558 µm (range 353–928 µm) and mean BCVA was 20/100. One day after the first injection, CRT significantly decreased to 401 μm (p<0.01). Three injections reduced macular oedema to 328 μm CRT (p<0.01) and improved BCVA to 20/50 (p<0.01). At 6 months, CRT was 382 μm (p<0.01), and BCVA was stable at 20/50−2 (p<0.01), FA showed no evidence of increased avascular zones.

Conclusion: Intravitreal injections of bevacizumab appear to be a safe and effective therapy in the treatment of macular oedema secondary to retinal vein occlusion.

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Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None.

  • Ethics approval: The study was approved by the ethics committee at the Medical University of Vienna, was registered at the European clinical database (EUDRACT-2005-003288-21) and followed the tenets of the Helsinki protocol.

  • Patient consent: Informed consent was obtained from all patients.

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