Bevacizumab (avastin) and ranibizumab (lucentis) for choroidal neovascularization in multifocal choroiditis

Abstract

Background: Multifocal choroiditis (MFC) is an inflammatory condition, occasionally associated with choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Bevacizumab (Avastin) and ranibizumab (Lucentis) are therapies that target vascular endothelial growth factor. Bevacizumab and ranibizumab have been used successfully to treat CNV in age-related and myopic macular degeneration.

Purpose: : To describe the treatment of MFC-associated CNV with intravitreal bevacizumab and/or ranibizumab.

Design: Retrospective interventional case series.

Participants: Six eyes of five patients with MFC-associated CNV were treated with intravitreal bevacizumab and/or ranibizumab.

Main outcome measures: Visual acuity at 1, 3, and 6 months after the initial injection.

Results: Previous therapies (number of eyes treated) included sub-Tenon's corticosteroids (2), intravitreal corticosteroids (1), photodynamic therapy (1), and thermal laser (1). The mean number (range) of antivascular endothelial growth factor injections per eye was 2.3 (1-6). The mean duration (range) of follow-up per patient was 41.5 (25-69) weeks. Five of six eyes improved to 20/30 acuity or better at 6 months. One eye suffered a subfoveal rip of the retinal pigment epithelium with 20/400 acuity. There was a qualitative decrease in clinical and angiographic evidence of CNV.

Conclusions: Bevacizumab and ranibizumab were effective at improving visual acuity over 6 months in a small series of patients with MFC-associated CNV. Tears of the retinal pigment epithelium may occur after intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy in MFC-associated CNV.