Efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) for short-term treatment of diabetic macular edema.

OBJECTIVE

To report the efficacy of intravitreal injections of bevacizumab for diabetic macular edema (DME) in the short-term.

METHODS

Retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series.

METHODS

Medical records of 20 eyes of 19 patients who underwent intravitreal injections of bevacizumab for persistent diabetic macular edema were reviewed retrospectively. All eyes received intravitreal injections of bevacizumab (1.25 mg/0.05 ml). The clinical course of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) using a logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution chart, and averaged foveal retinal thickness using an optical coherence tomography (OCT) were monitored for up to four weeks after the injection.

RESULTS

BCVA at one week improved by two lines or more in six eyes (30%) and in nine eyes (45%) at four weeks. However, no significant improvement in the mean BCVA from baseline was observed at one week (P>0.05) and four weeks (P>0.05). Mean retinal thicknesses (RT) were 411+/-170 mum at baseline, 349+/-102 microm at one week after the injection (P<0.05), and 380+/-159 microm at four weeks (P>0.05). One week after the injection, significant regression of macular edema was seen. However, recurrence occurred at four weeks. No complications such as severe vision loss, endophthalmitis, or systemic events developed.

CONCLUSIONS

No changes in BCVA and RT were observed in the short-term observation after the intravitreal injection of bevacizumab for DME.