ANTI-VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR THERAPY FOR NAIVE IDIOPATHIC CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULARIZATION: A Comparative Study.

PURPOSE

To determine the clinical characteristics of patients with idiopathic choroidal neovascularization and to compare outcomes between intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) and ranibizumab as therapy.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis included demographics, the corrected distance visual acuity, details of the ocular examination, imaging, treatment, outcomes, and adverse events. Patients with minimum of 1-year follow-up were included in the study. Primary outcome measure was change in corrected distance visual acuity at the final visit compared with baseline. Secondary outcome measures were change in central macular thickness and subretinal fluid (if present) with treatment and adverse events.

RESULTS

This study included 47 eyes of 45 patients with 30 males. Intravitreal bevacizumab group included 29 eyes (27 patients; with a median age of 39.4 ± 7.3 years). Intravitreal ranibizumab group included 18 eyes (18 patients; median age: 36.8 ± 9.3 years). Median baseline corrected distance visual acuity (logMAR) improved from 0.59 ± 0.38 to 0.2 ± 0.18 (P = 0.03) in intravitreal ranibizumab group and from 0.62 ± 0.41 to 0.18 ± 0.15 logMAR (P = 0.023) in intravitreal bevacizumab group. Median central macular thickness (in micrometers) improved from 315.11 ± 75.24 to 228.24 ± 67 (P = 0.036) in intravitreal bevacizumab group and from 327.24 ± 61.56 to 208 ± 53.42 (P = 0.031) in intravitreal ranibizumab group. There was no significant difference between groups in final corrected distance visual acuity (P = 0.31) or central macular thickness (P = 0.51). No adverse events were noted.

CONCLUSION

Both intravitreal ranibizumab and intravitreal bevacizumab seem equally effective in treating idiopathic choroidal neovascularization with a good safety profile without recurrence.