Intravitreal bevacizumab for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization associated with pattern dystrophy

PURPOSE: To assess the effects of intravitreal bevacizumab injections in the treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) associated with pattern dystrophy (PD) of the retinal pigment epithelium.METHODS: The study was a prospective, nonrandomized, open-label, interventional clinical trial in which 12 patients were prospectively enrolled. Patients with a diagnosis of PD complicated by subfoveal CNV were considered for the study. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmic examination, including ETDRS visual acuity measurement, electroretinogram, electrooculogram, optical coherence tomography, and fluorescein angiography. The treatment protocol began with a loading dose of three consecutive injections at 1-month intervals, followed by injections administered as needed, according to OCT parameters and angiographic features observed during a 24-month follow-up period. The number of eyes with a visual acuity loss of fewer than 15 letters (<3 ETDRS lines), compared with baseline measures, was recorded at the 6-, 12-, and 24-month examinations.RESULTS: Twelve patients completed the planned visits and were included in the study. A visual acuity loss of fewer than 15 letters was not registered in any case at the 6- and 12-month examinations and was found in only one (8%) patient at the 24-month examination. The mean best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and the mean central macular thickness (CMT) at baseline were 0.73+/-0.34 (logMAR+/-SD) and 276+/-95 microm (SD), respectively. At the 3-month examination, the mean BCVA significantly improved to 0.48+/-0.27, whereas the mean CMT decreased to 220+/-71 microm. At the 12-month examination, the mean BCVA was 0.45+/-0.24, and the mean CMT was 209+/-53 microm. At the 24-month (last) follow-up, the BCVA showed substantial stabilization and the CMT decreased to 199+/-34 microm. No side effects or complications were registered.CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal bevacizumab injection is a beneficial treatment for subfoveal CNV associated with PD. Further studies are warranted to confirm these initial results and to analyze the morphofunctional changes during the follow-up. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00391144.).