| Background To compare the two different treatment regimen: functional and anatomical outcomes following intravitreal bevacizumab for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular
Methods In this multicenter, 48 weeks, single-blind study, we randomly assigned 190 patients(193 eyes) with neovascular AMD to receive intravitreal injections of bevacizumab on either a every 6 weeks for 8 times schedule (regimen A) or a every 6 weeks for the first 3 times, every 12 weeks for the last 2 times schedule (regimen B). The primary outcome was the mean change in visual acuity during 48 weeks.
Results At 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 weeks, Mean increases in visual acuity were 5.09, 8.66, 12.48, 13.59, 12.46 letters from baseline in regimen A, as compared with 4.73, 6.07, 7.21, 8.56, 9.32 letters in regimen B (P=0.800, 0.143, 0.006, 0.025, 0.194, respectively). At 48 weeks, 96.2% in the regimen A lost fewer than 15 letters, as compared with 93.1% in the regimen B (P=0.502). Mean decreases in macular foveal thickness were 61.23, 77.78, 111.87, 118.69, 108.93 µm from baseline in regimen A, as compared with 91.85, 119.23, 124.12, 112.99, 113.41 µm in regimen B (P≥0.05). During 48 weeks, uveitis reactions were identified in 18 patients (19.1%) in regimen A and 9 patients (9.1%) in regimen B (P=0.044), there were no other ocular adverse event in both groups.
Conclusions At 48 weeks, Intravitreal administration of bevacizumab improved visual acuity and decreased macular thickness in patients with choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration. The short interval treatment schedule (regimen A) seemingly had better BCVA prognosis, but more adverse events.
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