Bevacizumab Injection for Recurrent Pterygium
Condition: Recurrent Pterygium
MeSH terms: Pterygium; Recurrence
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      Blockade of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) with bevacizumab has been used to treat
      abnormal vascular conditions of the anterior segment of the eye. In pterygium, anti-VEGF
      agents have been recently proposed as primary treatments, such as perioperative adjuvants, as
      well as treatments for pterygia recurrences after surgery. The aim of the present study was
      to prospectively evaluate the effect of three subconjunctival bevacizumab injections in
      patients with an early pterygium recurrence. Materials and Methods: The current study was a
      non-randomized single central trial. The method of ensuring allocation concealment was
      sequentially numbered. Patients with an early pterygium recurrence were selected and invited
      to participate in the study. Recurrence was defined as the presence of corneal vessels with
      concomitant conjunctival hyperemia within the first trimester after primary pterygium
      removal, and only patients with primary pterygium recurrence were included. Patient related
      factors such as pregnancy, women seeking to become pregnant, and lactating women were
      excluded from the study. All patients received three subconjunctival bevacizumab (2.5 mg/0.05
      ml) injections (basal, 2 and 4 weeks) in the recurrence area of the pterygium, and were
      photographed at the third, sixth and twelfth months after the last bevacizumab injection.
      Photographic analyses were performed taking into account two pterygium areas: the first
      measure included only the vessel area in the corneal surface, while the second measure
      included, both, conjunctival and corneal vessel area (corneal-conjunctival area of
      hyperemia). Neovascularization area of each pterygium was determined using digital slit lam
      pictures, which were analyzed using Photoshop CS4, in order to get pixels measurements of the
      lesion.
    

Detailed description: 
      The method of ensuring allocation concealment was sequentially numbered. Patients with an
      early pterygium recurrence were selected and invited to participate in the study. Recurrence
      was defined as the presence of corneal vessels with concomitant conjunctival hyperemia within
      the first trimester after primary pterygium removal, and only patients with primary pterygium
      recurrence were included. Patient related factors such as pregnancy, women seeking to become
      pregnant, and lactating women were excluded from the study. All patients received three
      subconjunctival bevacizumab (2.5 mg/0.05 ml) injections (basal, 2 and 4 weeks) in the
      recurrence area of the pterygium, and were photographed at the third, sixth and twelfth
      months after the last bevacizumab injection. Photographic analyses were performed taking into
      account two pterygium areas: the first measure included only the vessel area in the corneal
      surface, while the second measure included, both, conjunctival and corneal vessel area
      (corneal-conjunctival area of hyperemia). Neovascularization area of each pterygium was
      determined using digital slit lam pictures, which were analyzed using Photoshop CS4, in order
      to get pixels measurements of the lesion.
    

Intervention name(s): Bevacizumab; Medical Treatment; Medical Treatment; Argon laser treatment
Intervention type(s): Drug; Drug; Drug; Procedure
Intervention description(s): Care treatment included topical eyedrops of 0.3% tobramycin and 0.1% dexamethasone (Trazidex, Laboratorios Sophia) three times daily, and 0.5 carboxymethylcellulose lubricating eye drops (Refresh-Tears, Allergan, Irving, California, USA). Topical antibiotics and corticosteroids were tapered and discontinued after two weeks.; Care treatment included topical eyedrops of 0.3% tobramycin and 0.1% dexamethasone (Trazidex, Laboratorios Sophia) three times daily, and 0.5 carboxymethylcellulose lubricating eye drops (Refresh-Tears, Allergan, Irving, California, USA). Topical antibiotics and corticosteroids were tapered and discontinued after two weeks.
Other intervention name(s): Avastin
Intervention MeSH terms: Bevacizumab
Observational model: Cohort
Time perspective: Prospective
Sampling method: Non-Probability Sample
Study population: 
        - Patients with an early pterygium recurrence were selected and invited to participate in
        the study. Recurrence was defined as the presence of corneal vessels with concomitant
        conjunctival hyperemia within the first trimester after primary pterygium removal, and only
        patients with primary pterygium recurrence were included
      
Keywords: recurrent pterygium; bevacizumab; triple dose