Vascular endothelial growth factor in fellow eyes of eyes injected with intravitreal bevacizumab

Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2008 Oct;246(10):1379-81. doi: 10.1007/s00417-008-0874-8. Epub 2008 Jun 26.

Abstract

Background: To study the effect on untreated fellow eyes of eyes treated with an intravitreal injection of bevacizumab.

Methods: Bevacizumab (1.25 mg/0.05 ml) was injected into the vitreous cavity of one eye (the first eye) as a preoperative adjunctive therapy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy; vitrectomy was performed 1 week later. Immediately after vitrectomy, bevacizumab (1.25 mg/0.05 ml) was injected into the fellow eye (the second eye) followed by vitrectomy 1 week later. Aqueous humor samples were obtained from both eyes in five cases just before intravitreal injection of bevacizumab and just before vitrectomy 1 week later. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentrations in the aqueous humor were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results: VEGF concentrations in the aqueous humor of the first eyes ranged from 146 to 398 pg/ml (mean, 302+/-100 pg/ml) before intravitreal injection of bevacizumab; 1 week later, the VEGF concentrations in the injected eyes were less than 31 pg/ml, the lower limit of the ELISA, in all cases (p<0.001). The concentrations in the uninjected fellow eyes ranged from 181 to 551 pg/ml (mean, 382+/-119 pg/ml).

Conclusions: There seemed to be no or a minimal effect of the intravitreal injections of bevacizumab on the uninjected fellow eyes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / administration & dosage*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Aqueous Humor / metabolism*
  • Bevacizumab
  • Diabetic Retinopathy / drug therapy*
  • Diabetic Retinopathy / metabolism
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Injections
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism*
  • Vitreous Body

Substances

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