Comparison of 2.5 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg systemic bevacizumab in neovascular age-related macular degeneration: twenty-four week results of an uncontrolled, prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND

To compare safety, visual acuity (VA), and anatomic outcomes of 2.5 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg intravenous bevacizumab in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

METHODS

In an institutional cohort study, 16 patients (2 cohorts, 27 eyes) with neovascular age-related macular degeneration were treated with 5 mg/kg intravenous bevacizumab and 2.5 mg/kg, respectively. All patients received 3 initial intravenous infusions at 2-week intervals. The main outcome measures were VA, optical coherence tomography, and fluorescein angiography.

RESULTS

No serious systemic or ocular adverse events were identified. By Day 7, mean VA increased from 56 letters (20/80(+1)) at baseline to 60 letters (20/63) in the 5 mg/kg group and mean central retinal thickness decreased by 83 microm. In the 2.5 mg/kg group, mean VA increased from 55 letters (20/80) to 66 letters (20/50(+1)) and mean central retinal thickness decreased by 93 microm. By Month 3, VA improved by 10 letters compared to baseline in the 5 mg/kg group and by 9 letters in the 2.5 mg/kg group. Central retinal thickness was reduced by 128 microm in the 5 mg/kg group and by 127 microm in the 2.5 mg/kg group. These benefits were sustained through 6 months. No statistically significant difference was found between both treatment groups regarding safety, VA, and anatomic outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Similar VA, optical coherence tomography, and angiographic improvements were observed in both treatment groups up to 6 months. Further follow-up is required to evaluate the long-term durability and safety of both treatment regimens.