INTRAVITREAL BEVACIZUMAB FOR JUXTAFOVEAL CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULARIZATION SECONDARY TO MULTIFOCAL CHOROIDITIS

Purpose: To assess the effects of intravitreal bevacizumab injections in the treatment of juxtafoveal choroidal neovascularization associated with multifocal choroiditis. Methods: Prospective interventional case series. Fourteen patients (14 eyes) affected by juxtafoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to multifocal choroiditis were examined. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination, including measurement of best-corrected visual acuity using Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study charts, optical coherence tomography, and fluorescein angiography. The protocol treatment included a first injection, followed by repeated intravitreal bevacizumab injections over a 12-month follow-up period on the basis of optical coherence tomography parameters and angiographic features. Results: Mean best-corrected visual acuity changed from 0.41 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (approximately corresponding to 20/51 Snellen equivalent), at baseline, to 0.16 +/- 0.13 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (approximately corresponding to 20/28 Snellen equivalent), at the 12-month examination (P < 0.002). A functional improvement of at least 3 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study lines was achieved by 6 eyes (43%) at the 12-month examination. Mean central macular thickness at baseline was 318 mm, reducing to 239 mm at the 12-month examination (P < 0.001). No eye showed choroidal neovascularization extension to the fovea. Conclusion: Intravitreal bevacizumab is a beneficial treatment for juxtafoveal choroidal neovascularization associated with multifocal choroiditis. Further studies are warranted to confirm these preliminary results. RETINA 33: 953-956, 2013