Therapeutic effect of subconjunctival injection of bevacizumab in the treatment of corneal neovascularization.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To investigate the efficacy of subconjunctival injection of bevacizumab in the treatment of patients with corneal neovascularization.

METHODS:

Twenty-nine eyes of 29 patients with corneal neovascularization were treated with subconjunctival injection [1.25 mg/0.05 ml (seven eyes), 2.5 mg/0.1 ml (15 eyes) and 5.0 mg/0.2 ml (seven eyes)] of bevacizumab. Best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure and area of corneal neovascularization were measured before injection and at 1 week, 1 month and 3 months after treatment.

RESULTS:

At 1 week, the mean neovascularized corneal area decreased significantly to 85.5 +/- 18.0% (p = 0.01) in the eyes treated with 2.5 mg bevacizumab and to 73.1 +/- 23.4% (p = 0.02) in the eyes treated with 5.0 mg bevacizumab. At 3 months, the mean neovascularized corneal area was 93.6 +/- 10.6% (p = 0.10 compared to baseline; p < 0.01 compared to 1 week) in the eyes treated with 2.5 mg bevacizumab and 83.3 +/- 25.8% (p = 0.03 compared to baseline; p = 0.02 compared to 1 week) in the eyes treated with 5.0 mg bevacizumab. However, there were no significant changes in the areas of the eyes injected with 1.25 mg bevacizumab.

CONCLUSION:

Subconjunctival injection of bevacizumab can partially reduce corneal neovascularization in the short term, and the efficacy of this treatment correlates with the injection dose.

• Authors: In-Cheon You, In-Seong Kang, Seung-Hyun Lee, Kyung-Chul Yoon
• Journal: Acta ophthalmologica (Acta Ophthalmol) Vol. 87 Issue 6 Pg. 653-8 (Sep 2009) ISSN: 1755-3768 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19021596 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Angiogenesis Inhibitors
• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
• Bevacizumab

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Angiogenesis Inhibitors (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Antibodies, Monoclonal (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
• Bevacizumab
• Conjunctiva
• Corneal Neovascularization (drug therapy, pathology, physiopathology)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Eyeglasses
• Female
• Humans
• Injections
• Intraocular Pressure (drug effects)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Treatment Outcome
• Visual Acuity (drug effects)