Artikel
1-year-results of Bevacizumab therapy for subfoveal choroidal neovascularisations in age related macular degeneration
Suche in Medline nach
Autoren
Veröffentlicht: | 18. Juni 2008 |
---|
Gliederung
Text
Purpose: Results of the treatment for choroidal neovascular membranes (CNV) with Bevacizumab (Avastin) in age related macular degeneration under clinical routine conditions are presented.
Methods: Retrospective analysis of the courses of choroidal neovascular membranes in age related macular degeneration treated with Bevacizumab. Included were subfoveal neovascular lesions with a minimal visual acuity of 0,06 and a history of visual deterioation of no longer than 3 months. The patients were recruited for treatment between February and October 2006.
Results: 101 patients could be followed for 1 year. 5,7% of the patients had predominant classic, 21,4% minimal classic, 50,7% occult lesions (some with subfoveal blood) and 22,1% occult lesions combined with pigment epithelial detachment. 1 year after onset of treatment 65,3% of the patients could preserve their baseline level of vision, 79% could stabilize their visual acuity within 3 lines, and 20 % doubled their baseline acuity. Pigment epithelial ruptures were found in 2/27 cases with pigment epithelial detachment following treatment with bevacizumab.
Conclusion: In the majority of patients with choroidal neovascularization visual function can be preserved with intravitreal injections of bevacizumab for the first time in the clinical routine. In about one third of patients a doubling of visual acuity can be achieved. Although a rate of spontaneous ruptures following retinal pigment epithelial detachment has not been published yet the risk of pigment epithelial rupture following Bevacizumab therapy did not seem to be increased.