Comparative role of intravitreal ranibizumab versus bevacizumab in choroidal neovascular membrane in age-related macular degeneration

• Main Authors: Partha Biswas, Subhrangshu Sengupta, Ruby Choudhary, Subhankar Home, Ajoy Paul, Sourav Sinha
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2011-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Ophthalmology
• Subjects: Ahmed glaucoma valve; hypotony; post-penetrating-keratoplasty glaucoma; tube extrusion; scleral patch; Ranibizumab; bevacizumab; choroidal neovascular membrane; age-related macular degeneration; intravitreal injection; central macular thickness; best corrected visual acuity
• Online Access: http://www.ijo.in/article.asp?issn=0301-4738;year=2011;volume=59;issue=3;spage=191;epage=196;aulast=Biswas

Context: Ranibizumab and bevacizumab are used widely for treating patients with choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Aims: To determine and compare the efficacy and safety of intravitreal ranibizumab and bevacizumab in treatment of CNVM due to AMD. Settings and Design: Prospective comparative case series carried out in an eye institute and eye department of a hospital in Kolkata, India. Materials and Methods: One hundred and four eyes with CNVM due to AMD were randomized into two groups. Group A (n=54; 24 occult) received monthly intravitreal ranibizumab injections (0.5 mg in 0.05 ml) and Group B (n=50; 22 occult) received monthly bevacizumab injections (1.25 mg in 0.05 ml) for 3 consecutive months and then as per study criteria. Data analysis done using SPSS software. P-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in the ranibizumab group increased from 58.19 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters at baseline to 64 ETDRS letters at month 3 (P<0.001). In bevacizumab group mean BCVA increased from 56.80 to 61.72 ETDRS letters at month 3 (P<0.001). At the end of 18 months, there was no statistically significant difference between groups A and B with respect to change in BCVA (P=0.563) or central macular thickness (CMT; P=0.281), as measured by optical coherence tomography (Stratus OCT 3000). No significant sight-threatening complications developed. Conclusions: Ranibizumab and bevacizumab are equally safe and efficacious in treating CNVM due to AMD.