Lack of positive effect of intravitreal bevacizumab in central serous chorioretinopathy: meta-analysis and review

Abstract

Purpose: To review and evaluate the effects of intravitreal bevacizumab injection (IVB) in centralserous chorioretinopathy (CSC) by meta-analysis.

Patients and methods: Clinical controlled studies that evaluated the effect of IVB in CSC were identified through systematic searches of Embase, PubMed, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Data on the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in logMAR and central macular thickness (CMT) in μm at baseline and 6 months after IVB were extracted and compared with those treated by simple observation.

Results: Four clinical controlled studies were included in the meta-analysis. The IVB injection group achieved better BCVA at a follow-up of 6 months. However, the analysis showed that there were no significant differences of BCVA at 6 months after injection between IVB group and the observation group (-0.02 logMAR, 95% CI -0.14 to 0.11, P=0.80). The analysis of the reduction in CMT revealed that the difference between groups was not statistically significant (-8.37 μm, 95% CI -97.26 to 80.52, P=0.85). No report assessed severe complications or side effects of IVB in patients with CSC.

Conclusions: Meta-analysis failed to verify the positive effect of IVB in CSC based on the epidemiological literature published to date.

Figure 1

Forest plot showing the mean differences in BCVA in logMAR, with 95% confidence intervals, of experimental (IVB group) compared with the control group (observation) at 6 months. The differences were not significant.

Figure 2

Forest plot of the mean differences in CMT in μm, with 95% confidence intervals, of experimental (IVB group) compared with the control group (observation) at 6 months. The differences were not significant.