Intravitreal injection of bevacizumab for the treatment of choroidal neovascularization in a patient with angioid streaks

Abstract

We report the favorable outcome of intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (Avastin) to treat choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) secondary to angioid streaks in an 82-year-old Chinese man. Within 2 weeks of bevacizumab injection, visual acuity improved from 20/40 to 20/25 and optical coherence tomography revealed complete resolution of CNV and retinal edema. The juxtafoveal hemorrhage nearly disappeared, and the size of CNV markedly regressed from 1,200 microm to unremarkable on fluorescein angiography. These improvements were maintained after 2 additional doses of intravitreal bevacizumab administered at 4-week intervals. No ocular or systemic side effects were observed. Neither recurrent CNV lesion nor new hemorrhage was noted during 18 months of follow-up. The short-term results suggest that intravitreal injection of bevacizumab for the treatment of CNV in patients with angioid streak is well tolerated and highly effective. It may be a promising pharmacologic treatment option since limited therapies are available for this disease with a rather aggressive course.