Bevacizumab for macular edema in central retinal vein occlusion: a prospective, randomized, double-masked clinical study

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of intraocular injections with bevacizumab in patients with macular edema (ME) secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).

Design: Prospective, randomized, sham injection-controlled, double-masked clinical trial.

Participants: Sixty patients with ME secondary to CRVO.

Methods: At baseline, patients were randomized 1:1 to receive intraocular injections of bevacizumab or sham injections every 6 weeks for 6 months.

Main outcome measures: The primary outcome measure was the proportion of patients gaining at least 15 letters at 6 months. Secondary outcome measures included mean change from baseline best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), foveal thickness, and neovascular glaucoma.

Results: At the end of follow-up, 18 of 30 patients (60.0%) in the study group had gained ≥15 letters compared with 6 of 30 patients (20.0%) in the control group (P=0.003). The BCVA improved by 14.1 letters at 24 weeks compared with a decrease of 2.0 letters in the control group (P < 0.003). The mean decrease in central retinal thickness (CRT) was significantly greater in the study group (426 μm) than in the control group (102 μm) at all time points up to week 24 (P < 0.001). No residual edema, defined as CRT <300 μm at 24 weeks, was found in 26 of 30 patients (86.7%) in the treatment group compared with 6 of 30 patients (20%) in the control group (P < 0.001). In the sham group, 5 of 30 patients (16.7%) had developed iris rubeosis at week 24. No patients in the study group had rubeosis at week 24 (P=0.052). There were no events of endophthalmitis, retinal tear, or retinal detachment during the 24-week treatment period. No serious non-ocular adverse events were reported.

Conclusions: Intraocular injections of bevacizumab given every 6 weeks for 6 months improve visual acuity (VA) and reduce ME significantly compared with sham.

Financial disclosure(s): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.