Intravitreal bevacizumab for previously treated choroidal neovascularization from age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE: To report the optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings and visual results in a series of patients treated with intravitreal bevacizumab for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and to determine if a difference in treatment effect exists between previously treated and treatment naïve patients.

METHODS: A retrospective review of all patients treated with intravitreal bevacizumab for CNV from AMD with visual acuity greater than or equal to 20/320 between September 2005 and February 2006 was performed. OCT data recorded included central macular thickness and the presence or absence of cystic intraretinal fluid, subretinal fluid, or pigment epithelial detachment at the time of the initial injection, at 1-week, 1-month, and 3-month intervals, as well as at the end of follow-up. Visual acuity measurements were recorded using Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study charts. Any ocular or systemic adverse events were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed to determine if OCT and visual acuity results were significant and to determine if a difference in outcomes existed between previously treated patients and treatment naïve patients.

RESULTS: Fifty-four eyes of 51 patients treated with intravitreal bevacizumab for CNV from AMD were identified. A total of 178 injections were performed. Mean number of days of follow-up was 138 with 91% of patients having at least 90 days of follow-up. Seventy percent of patients had undergone previous treatment for CNV. The mean number of intravitreal bevacizumab injections per eye was 3.3. Combined treatment with photodynamic therapy was provided in 20% of cases at the initial intravitreal injection. OCT data for all patients revealed an initial mean thickness of 362 mum, which was decreased at 1 week to 278 microm (P = 0.001), 235 microm at 1 month (P < 0.0001), 238 microm at 3 months (P = 0.0004), and 244 microm for the end of follow-up (P < 0.0001). Cystic retinal edema, subretinal fluid, and pigment epithelial detachment resolved in the majority of cases, but pigment epithelial detachment frequently took longer to resolve. Initial mean visual acuity was 20/125 (logMAR 0.8), and final mean visual acuity was 20/100 (logMAR 0.7) (P = 0.03). There was no difference in OCT or visual acuity outcomes (P = 0.62 and P = 0.28, respectively) between previously treated and treatment naïve patients. There was no difference in OCT or visual acuity outcomes (P = 0.67 and P = 0.21, respectively) between patients who received combination therapy and those who received monotherapy with intravitreal bevacizumab. No systemic or ocular adverse events were recorded.

CONCLUSION: Intravitreal bevacizumab for CNV from AMD results in a rapid decrease in OCT-measured retinal thickness in a majority of cases. Visual acuity also improved in this series, suggesting a potential corresponding visual benefit. This series suggests that previously treated and treatment naïve patients have similar outcomes.