Intravitreal bevacizumab for diabetic macular edema associated with severe capillary loss: one-year results of a pilot study.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of intravitreal bevacizumab in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) associated with severe capillary loss.

Methods: Multicenter, open-label, nonrandomized study. Methods: null Methods: Two tertiary ophthalmic referral centers in Brazil. Methods: Ten consecutive patients with DME and "severe" capillary loss. Methods: Intravitreal injection(s) of bevacizumab (1.5 mg). Standardized ophthalmic evaluation was performed at baseline and at weeks 8, 16, 24, and 54. Methods: Changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and in optical coherence tomography variables (central macular thickness [CMT] and total macular volume [TMV]).

Results: Significant changes in BCVA and in CMT/TMV were noted throughout the study (P < .001, P = .009, and P < .001, respectively). The mean logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study BCVA was 0.786 ( approximately 20/125(+1)) at baseline, 0.646 ( approximately 20/80(-2)) at week 8, 0.580 (20/80(+1)) at week 16, 0.574 ( approximately 20/80(+1)) at week 24, and 0.558 ( approximately 20/80(+2)) at week 54. Compared with baseline, a significant change in BCVA was noted at all follow-up visits (P

Conclusions: Favorable changes in BCVA and in CMT/TMV observed throughout 1 year suggest that intravitreal bevacizumab may be a viable alternative treatment for the management of patients with DME and severe capillary loss.