A retrospective study of the use of intravitreal bevacizumab in a public hospital in Argentina

Abstract

Objective: To describe the results obtained with the use of intravitreal injections of bevacizumab for vitreo-retinal pathologies.

Materials and methods: A single-center retrospective study examined the evolution of patients who received at least one intravitreal injection of bevacizumab between February 2021 and March 2024. Information was collected on age, sex, diagnosis, initial and final best-corrected visual acuity, change in at least 1 decimal place, compliance with the treatment schedule, reason for discontinuation of treatment, initial and final macular thickness, and serious adverse events.

Results: The study included 84 eyes of 77 patients with a mean age of 56.3 years (range: 23-89). A total of 218 injections were administered, with an average of 2.56 injections per eye and 2.8 per patient. The main pathologies treated were diabetic macular edema (34.52%) and macular edema secondary to vascular occlusions (33.3%). The primary scheme of 3 doses was complied with in 72.62% of the cases. An improvement in visual acuity was observed in 72.1% of patients, with an average macular thickness reduction of 110.74 µm. Serious adverse effects were infrequent, with a case of high blood pressure (0.4%) and one case of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (0.4%).

Conclusion: Treatment with intravitreal injections of bevacizumab proved to be safe and effective in improving visual acuity in vitreoretinal pathologies, being also a cost-beneficial strategy in the context of public health.