Retrospective study of an as required dosing regimen of intravitreal bevacizumab in neovascular age-related macular degeneration in an Australian population

• Published in: Clinical & experimental ophthalmology 2010-10, Vol.38 (7), p.659-663
• Main Authors: Luu, Susie T, Gray, Timothy, Warrier, Sunil K, Patel, Ilesh, Muecke, James S, Casson, Robert, Gilhotra, Jagjit S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: age-related macular degeneration; age-related maculopathy; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Angiogenesis Inhibitors - administration & dosage; Angiogenesis Inhibitors - adverse effects; Antibodies, Monoclonal - administration & dosage; Antibodies, Monoclonal - adverse effects; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Bevacizumab; choroidal neovascularization; Choroidal Neovascularization - drug therapy; Choroidal Neovascularization - etiology; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Injections, Intraocular; Macular Degeneration - complications; Macular Degeneration - diagnosis; Macular Degeneration - physiopathology; Male; Middle Aged; Recurrence; Retreatment; Retrospective Studies; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Treatment Outcome; Visual Acuity; Vitreous Body
• ISSN: 1442-6404; 1442-9071
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1442-9071.2010.02309.x

Purpose:  To investigate the efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab for the treatment of neovascular age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) using an as required dosing regimen. Methods:  A retrospective study of 210 patients (231 eyes) with choroidal neovascularization resulting from neovasacular AMD. Patients were treated with 1.25 mg intravitreal bevacizumab at a vitreoretinal practice in Adelaide, South Australia. Patients were followed up at 2–4 weeks and then at 1‐month intervals; repeat injections were offered in the event of recurrence. Recurrence was defined as either a decrease of best‐corrected visual acuity or an increase in macular oedema, subretinal fluid or intraretinal fluid on optical coherence tomography, after complete or partial resolution in previous follow‐up visits. Patient data were collected for 12 months of follow up or until the patient's treatment was changed to ranibizumab. Results:  Significant improvement in visual acuity and central retinal thickness was demonstrated at 1 month with an improvement of vision from logMAR equivalent 0.76 to 0.68 (P