Subconjunctival bevacizumab injection in treatment of pterygium

Abstract

This study determined the clinical effect of subconjunctival administration of bevacizumab in patients with primary and recurrent pterygium. The study was an off-label, single-dosing, interventional case series involving 22 patients with primary and recurrent pterygium. They received subconjunctival bevacizumab (0.2 cc). Pterygium vascularity and thickness was graded. The size of the pterygium (measured by surface area in cm2) was recorded from baseline to 12 weeks, after injection. Treatment-related complications and adverse events were reported. The main outcome of measurements was the change in size, vascularity, thickness, color intensity. There were 15 males (68.2%) and 7 females (31.8%) of 22 patients with a mean age of 45.5 years (SD 11.68 years). One cases didn't cooperate, and excluded. There was a significant difference in the mean surface area of pterygium at different intervals (P < 0.05) and the size of pterygium was reduced. On comparison of the mean pterygium size, there was no significant difference between men and women (P >0.05). There was a significant reduction in the mean pterygium size of patients younger than 45 years in comparison to those older than 45 years after three month (P =0.037), but after 6 months, this difference was not significant (P = 0.338). Average changes in pterygium size for both eyes were not different. The reduction of color intensity in both eyes was significant (P =0.031). Subconjuctival bevacizumab injection is useful in management of patients with primary and recurrent pterygium without significant local or systemic adverse effects.