COMBINED INTRAVITREAL BEVACIZUMAB AND TRIAMCINOLONE IN EXUDATIVE AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION
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Abstract
ABSTRACT.
Purpose: We report on thè combined application of intravitreal bevacizumab
and triamcinolone acetonide for treatment of exudative age-related macular
degeneration (AMD).
Methods: The clinical interventional case-series study included 16 patients (16
eyes) with exudative AMD who had previously received 3.5 ±1. 8 mono-injec-tions of bevacizumab (1.5 mg) without significant improvement in visual acuity
(VA) or reduction in macular exudation. AH patients underwent a combined
intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (1.5 mg) and triamcinolone acetonide
(about 20 mg). Main outcome measures were VA and macular thickness as
determined by optical coherence tomography. AH patients were re-examined at
2-3 months after thè intervention.
Results: Visual acuity improved significantly (p = 0.03) from 0.80 ± 0.40
logMAR prior to thè combined injection to 0.65 ± 0.42 logMAR at 3 months
after thè injection. An improvement of > 1 Snellen line was found in eight sub-jects, an increase of > 2 lines in five subjects, and an improvement of > 3 lines
in two subjects. One patient lost 1 line and one patient lost 3 lines. Central
retinal thickness decreased significantly from 272 ± 62 ^m to 220 ± 47 firn
(p = 0.03). At thè 6-month follow-up examination, centrai retinal thickness
had increased again to 319 ± 142 fan, which was not significantly (p = 0.30)
different from baseline measurements.
Conclusions: The combined intravitreal application of bevacizumab and triam-cinolone may temporarily be helpful in thè treatment of exudative AMD if
previous intravitreal bevacizumab mono-injections bave failed to improve vision
and reduce macular oedema