PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy and safety of combined intravitreal bevacizumab and low-fluency-rate photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the treatment of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and to compare it with intravitreal bevacizumab monotherapy. METHODS:A total of 62 eyes of 62 patients with angiographic evidence of CNV were divided into 2 groups: the eyes of one group were treated with a combined therapy of 1 intravitreal bevacizumab injection (1.25 mg) and PDT within 7 days; the eyes of the other group received intravitreal bevacizumab monotherapy. Clinical evidence of complications, best-corrected visual acuity (BVCA) and fluorescein leakage were evaluated. Best-corrected visual acuity and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were tested monthly and followed for 12 months. RESULTS: In the combined group the mean BCVA increased from 0.61 logMAR before the treatment to 0.54 logMAR at 12 months' follow-up. In the monotherapy group the mean BCVA increased from 0.65 logMAR to 0.60 logMAR at 12 months' follow-up. There was no significant difference in visual acuity outcomes between groups (P > 0.05). In the combined group the mean number of treatments was 1.19 per patient; in the monotherapy group, 5.31 per patient (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Combined therapy appears to be an effective option for CNV associated with AMD treatment allowing a significant reduction of intravitreal injections.
RCT Entities:
PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy and safety of combined intravitreal bevacizumab and low-fluency-rate photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the treatment of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and to compare it with intravitreal bevacizumab monotherapy. METHODS: A total of 62 eyes of 62 patients with angiographic evidence of CNV were divided into 2 groups: the eyes of one group were treated with a combined therapy of 1 intravitreal bevacizumab injection (1.25 mg) and PDT within 7 days; the eyes of the other group received intravitreal bevacizumab monotherapy. Clinical evidence of complications, best-corrected visual acuity (BVCA) and fluorescein leakage were evaluated. Best-corrected visual acuity and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were tested monthly and followed for 12 months. RESULTS: In the combined group the mean BCVA increased from 0.61 logMAR before the treatment to 0.54 logMAR at 12 months' follow-up. In the monotherapy group the mean BCVA increased from 0.65 logMAR to 0.60 logMAR at 12 months' follow-up. There was no significant difference in visual acuity outcomes between groups (P > 0.05). In the combined group the mean number of treatments was 1.19 per patient; in the monotherapy group, 5.31 per patient (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Combined therapy appears to be an effective option for CNV associated with AMD treatment allowing a significant reduction of intravitreal injections.
Authors: Ryan M Rich; Philip J Rosenfeld; Carmen A Puliafito; Sander R Dubovy; Janet L Davis; Harry W Flynn; Serafin Gonzalez; William J Feuer; Richard C Lin; Geeta A Lalwani; Jackie K Nguyen; Gaurav Kumar Journal: Retina Date: 2006 May-Jun Impact factor: 4.256
Authors: Mandeep S Dhalla; Gaurav K Shah; Kevin J Blinder; Edwin H Ryan; Robert A Mittra; Asheesh Tewari Journal: Retina Date: 2006 Nov-Dec Impact factor: 4.256
Authors: Alexandros A Rouvas; Thanos D Papakostas; Ioannis D Ladas; Ioannis Vergados Journal: Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol Date: 2007-10-24 Impact factor: 3.117
Authors: Markus S Ladewig; Stefanie E Karl; Victoria Hamelmann; Hans-Martin Helb; Hendrik P N Scholl; Frank G Holz; Nicole Eter Journal: Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol Date: 2007-08-15 Impact factor: 3.117