Abstract

Volume.116 Number.2

Original article : Clinical science

Macular Ischemia Following Intravitreal Bevacizumab Therapy for Diabetic Macular Edema
Yosuke Nakamura1, Norio Takeda1, Tomoaki Tatsumi2, Toshiyuki Oshitari2, Miyuki Arai2, Yoko Takatsuna2, Yoshinori Mitamura3, Shuichi Yamamoto2
1 Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital, National Center for Global Health and Medicine
2 Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine
3 Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School

Purpose: To examine the effects of macular ischemia after intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME).
Methods: Thirty-three eyes of 33 patients with DME were treated with IVB. Fluorescein angiography (FA) was conducted before and 3 months after IVB, the pretreatment sizes of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) calculated by FA were compared to the values at 3 months after IVB. This study was approved by the Chiba University Hospital Clinical Research Ethics Committee.
Results: After IVB, the size of the FAZ enlarged significantly (p=0.03). Among the 33 patients treated with IVB, 2 patients (6%) had advanced macular ischemia with an FAZ enlarged by 50% or more. In both patients, the visual acuity did not worsen and the foveal thickness decreased.
Conclusions: It is possible that IVB led to macular ischemia.
Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi (J Jpn Ophthalmol Soc) 116: 108-113, 2012.

Key words
Bevacizumab, Diabetic macular edema, Macular ischemia
Reprint requests to
Yosuke Nakamura, M.D. Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital, National Center for Global Health and Medicine. 1-21-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8655, Japan