Intravitreal Bevacizumab for Choroidal Neovascularization Associated With Pattern Distrophy

Purpose : To assess the effects of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) injections in the treatment of choroideal neovascularization (CNV) associated with pattern distrophy (PD) of the retinal pigment epithelium. Methods Prospective interventional case series. Patients with PD complicated by CNV were considered. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination, including ETDRS visual acuity, electroretinogram, electrooculogram, optical coherence tomography, fluorescein angiography, and indocyanine green angiography. The protocol required 3 monthly consecutive injections, followed by repeat injections over the 12-month follow-up on the basis of OCT parameters, angiographic features, visual acuity response. Results Eight patients were enrolled in the study and prospectively followed up. Mean visual acuity and mean foveal thickness (FT) at the baseline were 0.74±0.42 (logMAR±SD) and 277±117µm SD, respectively. At three-month examination, mean visual acuity improved to 0.51±0.31 and mean FT decreased to 225±88µm SD. At 12-month examination, mean visual acuity was 0.49±0.26, and mean FT 222±87µm. No side-effect or complication was registered. Conclusions Intravitreal bevacizumab seems to be a beneficial treatment for CNV associated with PD in a short term follow-up. However, a longer follow-up is necessary to validate our results, bearing in mind that CNV related to PD is a quite rare association, and that a randomized clinical trial on this topic is unlikely.