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Intravitreal bevacizumab shows short-term efficacy against diabetic macular edema
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Intravitreal bevacizumab may be able to stabilize and even improve vision in patients with diabetic macular edema, according to 6-month results of a study by researchers in South America. Although the results are encouraging, "Follow-up is still [too] short to make any specific treatment recommendations," the study authors said.
J. Fernando Arevalo, MD, FACS, and colleagues at six South American centers reviewed the anatomic and visual responses after primary treatment with intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech) at doses of either 1.25 mg or 2.5 mg. The study included 78 eyes of 64 consecutive patients treated at a mean age of 59.7 years; 63 eyes (80.8%) received a 2.5 mg injection and 15 eyes (19.2%) received a 1.25 mg injection. All patients had at least 6 months follow-up, according to the study.
At 6.31 months mean follow-up, the researchers found that mean logMAR best corrected visual acuity had significantly improved to 0.6 from 0.87 at baseline. However, 16 eyes (20.5%) required a second treatment after an average of 13.8 weeks, and six eyes (7.7%) required a third injection after an average of 11.5 weeks, the authors reported.
At final follow-up, BCVA remained stable in 32 eyes (41.1%), improved at least two ETDRS lines in 43 eyes (55.1%) and decreased more than two ETDRS lines in three eyes (3.8%), according to the study.
Central macular thickness, as measured using optical coherence tomography, also significantly improved after treatment. Central macular thickness averaged 387 µm at baseline and decreased to an average of 275.7 µm at final follow-up, according to the study.
No patients experienced any ocular or systemic adverse events, the authors noted.
The study is published in the April issue of Ophthalmology.