Safety and efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab (avastin) for the management of branch and hemiretinal vein occlusion.

Abstract

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech) for the treatment of macular edema (ME) secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) and hemiretinal vein occlusion (HRVO). A retrospective review was performed of consecutive patients treated with intravitreal bevacizumab (1.25 mg) for ME secondary to BRVO/HRVO from May 2005 to August 2006 with follow-up through February 2007. Re-treatment was performed at monthly or longer intervals at the discretion of the treating physician. Fifty-two eyes with a BRVO and 13 eyes with an HRVO received intravitreal bevacizumab at baseline. Visual acuity improved by a mean of 12 letters at 1 month (n = 51; P < 0.001), 13 letters at 3 months (n = 61; P < 0.001), 13 letters at 6 months (n = 42; P < 0.001), 14 letters at 9 months (n = 27; P < 0.001), and 15 letters at 12 months (n = 17; P = 0.015). The mean optical coherence tomography (OCT) thickness decreased by 184 microm (P < 0.001), 131 microm (P < 0.001), 161 microm (P < 0.001), 158 microm (P = 0.002), and 205 microm (P = 0.002) at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months, respectively. The mean number of injections was 1.4, 2.1, 2.7, and 3.1, and 3.3 at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months, respectively. No ocular or systemic adverse events were observed. Improvements in visual acuity and OCT outcomes were observed during the first year after intravitreal bevacizumab in patients with ME secondary to BRVO and HRVO.