Therapeutic Effects of Intravitreal Bevacizumab Injection for Retinal Neovascularization Secondary to Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the short-term effects of a single intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (Avastin) for the management of new vessels (NV) associated with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). METHODS: A non-randomized study of 19 PDR patients (20 eyes) who had active NV was analyzed prospectively. Standardized ophthalmic evaluation was performed at baseline and at weeks 1, 4, and 8 after intravitreal injection of 1.25 mg of bevacizumab. The main outcome measures included changes in total area of fluorescein leakage from active NV and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). RESULTS: Twenty eyes of 19 patients (12 men [63.2%], 7 women [36.8%]) were included and all patients completed the 8-week study follow-up period. The mean age of participants was 47.05+/-12.48 years. At baseline, NV area was 23.02+/-21.80 mm2. The area of active NV decreased significantly to 4.96+/-9.18 mm2, 1.11+/-4.96 mm2 and 4.55+/-5.11 mm2 (p<0.05) at 1, 4 and 8 weeks after injection, respectively. At week 4, no leakage was observed in 19 eyes. The mean logMAR BCVA improved from 0.59+/-0.49 at baseline to 0.56+/-0.47, 0.55+/-0.73 and 0.51+/-0.50 at weeks 1, 4, and 8, respectively. No significant adverse events were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term results suggest that intravitreal injection of bevacizumab is associated with a rapid regression of retinal neovascularization secondary to PDR.