Bevacizumab (Avastin) for the treatment of ocular disease

Surv Ophthalmol. 2009 May-Jun;54(3):372-400. doi: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2009.02.004.

Abstract

The use of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) has greatly expanded since its introduction into ophthalmic care 3 years ago. A PubMed search on 1 August 2008 revealed 51 ocular disease processes that have been treated with bevacizumab. The majority of publications consist of case reports or retrospective case series and their number is increasing quickly. It is important to collate the experiences gained to date to properly inform our clinical decision making and improve the design of future clinical trials. Current studies cannot easily be combined in a meta-analysis given the lack of standardized data and the wide variety of disorders studied in small numbers. This paper will describe the attempted uses of intravitreal bevacizumab and its efficacy for each ocular disease in addition to discussing safety. Comments regarding appropriate use of this treatment are based on our current level of knowledge. It is clear that the initial encouraging results described in this paper warrant further study of intravitreal bevacizumab in larger, controlled, randomized trials.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / adverse effects
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Bevacizumab
  • Eye Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Injections
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / drug therapy
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Vitreous Body

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Bevacizumab