Changes in retinal sensitivity in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration after systemic bevacizumab (avastin) therapy.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate changes in central retinal sensitivity in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration after systemic bevacizumab (Avastin; Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA) therapy.

METHODS:

For all eyes, the central 12 x 12 degrees visual field was recorded using the MP 1 Microperimeter (Nidek, Gamagori, Japan) at baseline and 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after initial treatment. Patients received systemic anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy with three initial bevacizumab infusions at 2-week intervals. Retreatment during follow-up was performed only in cases of choroidal neovascularization recurrence. Seven patients (12 eyes) received bevacizumab infusions at a dose of 5 mg/kg, and 7 patients (9 eyes), at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg.

RESULTS:

Of 41 stimulation points, a mean absolute scotoma of 15 missed stimulation points was measured at baseline, which decreased to 10 missed stimulation points at month 3 (-5; P = 0.005) and to 11 stimulation points at month 6 (-4; P = 0.106). The mean absolute scotoma size (in % of total tested area) decreased from 33% to 22% (-11%; P = 0.011) at month 3 and to 23% (-10%, P = 0.123) at month 6. Mean differential light threshold increased significantly throughout the observation period from 3.8 dB at baseline to 5.5 dB (+1.7 dB; P = 0.012) at month 6.

CONCLUSIONS:

Systemic bevacizumab therapy induced a significant increase in mean retinal sensitivity at month 6 of follow-up and a significant decrease of mean absolute scotoma size at month 3. The MP 1 Microperimeter proved to be a valuable tool in the evaluation of functional benefits and retinal safety of anti-VEGF therapy with systemic bevacizumab.

• Authors: Franz Prager, Stephan Michels, Christian Simader, Wolfgang Geitzenauer, Ursula Schmidt-Erfurth
• Journal: Retina (Philadelphia, Pa.) (Retina) Vol. 28 Issue 5 Pg. 682-8 (May 2008) ISSN: 0275-004X [Print] United States
• PMID: 18463510 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Angiogenesis Inhibitors
• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
• Bevacizumab

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Angiogenesis Inhibitors (administration & dosage)
• Antibodies, Monoclonal (administration & dosage)
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
• Bevacizumab
• Choroidal Neovascularization (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Infusions, Intravenous
• Macular Degeneration (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Male
• Prospective Studies
• Retina (physiology)
• Retreatment
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Vision, Ocular (physiology)
• Visual Acuity
• Visual Field Tests
• Visual Fields (drug effects)