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Anti-VEGF may help patients overcome initial corneal graft rejection due to neovascularization
Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2009;247(12):1701-1706.
Anti-VEGF therapy reduced corneal neovascularization in a population of patients with high-risk corneal transplantation after penetrating keratoplasty.
In a study, 14 patients, who underwent PK for vascularized leucomas after herpetic keratitis and chemical burn, advanced pseudophakic bullous keratopathy with superficial and deep corneal vascularization, keratoconus, severe infection in hereditary corneal dystrophy, and failed corneal grafts, received an injection of Avastin (bevacizumab, Genentech) for corneal neovascularization and were followed for 2 to 8 months.
Neovascularization was reduced in 11 patients, and by the end of the observation period, 12 grafts remained transparent. Subconjunctival and perilimbal application of bevacizumab reduced corneal inflammation and initial graft rejection in two patients.
No adverse events were noted, according to the study authors.