Abstract

FR.13.09

Intravitreal Avastin for pigment epithelial detachments in age-related macular degeneration

Hamelmann V., Helb H.-M., Meyer C. H., Holz F. G., Eter N.
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn, Bonn

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal Avastin injections in patients with pigment epithelial detachments (PED) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Methods: 62 eyes of patients with PED secondary to AMD were treated with intravitreal Avastin (1,5 mg). Baseline and follow-up visits included testing for ETDRS visual acuity and examination by optical coherence tomography (OCT 3, Zeiss). Follow-up visits were performed 1, 3 and 6 months after initial treatment. Before surgery lesions were characterized by digital fluorescein angiography and OCT. The amount of PED was determined as the highest elevation on two perpendicular OCT cross sections.
Results: On OCT, PED decreased from 346±148 µm at baseline to 241±159 µm (p<0.001), 227±193 µm (p<0.001), and 166±170 µm (p<0.001) at 1,3 and 6 months, respectively. Mean BCVA increased from 49±18 letters at baseline to 52±21 letters (p=0.062) at 1 month, however, 3 and 6 months after initial injection mean BCVA return to baseline levels (3 months: 49±19 letters, p=0.518; 6 months: 49±20 letters, p=0.053). On average patients received 1.8 injections during the observation period of 6 months. Except for one RPE rip no other ocular or systemic adverse events were noticed. Ocular inflammation was not found in any of the investigated patients.
Conclusions: The present data demonstrates a therapeutic effect of intravitreal Avastin in patients with pigment epithelial detachments secondary to AMD. Further studies are warranted to evaluate morphologic and functional long-term outcome as well as optimized retreatment intervals.

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