Preoperative Bevacizumab Injection in Primary Pterygium in Tunisian Patients

Purpose: To assess the efficacy and safety of a single preoperative intra-lesional bevacizumab injection in primary pterygium.

Methods: The investigators conducted a randomized controlled interventional study from January 2019 to December 2020. The study included a total of 60 patients (60 eyes) with primary pterygium. The investigators defined two groups of 30 patients each. Group A received an intralesional injection of bevacizumab (Avastin), one month before surgery (lesion excision and conjunctival autograft). Group B (control) had only the surgical treatment. Patients were followed up seven days (D7), one month (M1), three months (M3), and six months (M6) post-operatively. Pre-, per- and post-operatively, photographs of the lesions were taken, as well as a pathological examination. The main outcome measures were the change in functional discomfort following intralesional bevacizumab injection and pterygium recurrence. Recurrence was defined by fibrovascular tissue growth extending more than 1 mm across the limbus. Therapeutic success was defined as the absence of pterygium recurrence in M6.

This prospective randomized controlled study adhered to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki. The Ethics Committee of our institution approved its modalities. The investigators had informed consent from all participants. The study included a total of 60 eyes of 60 patients with primary pterygium between January 2019 and December 2020. The investigators divided the patients into two groups of 30 patients each. The investigators performed a simple randomization method using a table of random numbers. Group A received an intralesional injection of 0.05 ml (1.25 mg) of Bevacizumab, one month before surgical treatment (lesion excision and conjunctival autograft by a single trained surgeon). Group B (control) had only the surgical treatment.

Each patient underwent a complete ocular examination: BSCVA, refraction, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, fundoscopy, and intraocular pressure measurement.

The investigators classified pterygium according to its stage (the Vaniscotte et al. Classification), grade (according to Tan et al. grading scheme), and color intensity (according to Teng et al : 0 = unremarkable, 1 = trace, 2 = mild, 3 = moderate, 4 = diffuse). The investigators measured Its corneal surface with Image J software. The study included patients over 18-years-old having primary pterygium with surgical indications:

* Stages 2, 3 and 4
* Significant astigmatism \> 1.50 PD
* Patients with significant functional signs: according to a discomfort score that The investigators proposed.

Non-inclusion criteria were recurrent pterygium, suspected pterygium (sentinel vessels, resistant inflammation), and filtering surgery indication. Excluded were patients lost to follow-up or having a bevacizumab contraindication (hypertension, bleeding tendencies, previous myoredial infarction or stroke, pregnant and lactating women).

Pre-operative data gathered included basic demographic information (age and sex), medical and ophthalmological history, and involved eye(s).

The subjective variables: 1) photophobia; 2) foreign body sensation; 3) Ocular itching; 4) tearing, and 5) ocular redness; 6) visual blur, were evaluated according to their severity from 0 to 10 (visual analog scale (VAS)). The investigators assessed this score in each visit.

The surgical technique featured :

1. subconjunctival anesthetic (lidocaine 2%) injection 5 mm from limbus;
2. excision of the pterygium, starting from its head, followed by pterygium body removal;
3. exposition of a triangular-shaped bare scleral bed (3-4 mm)
4. conjunctival autograft stitched limbus to limbus with 10/0 vicryl suture Any intraoperative complication was noted and was treated accordingly. All cases were given dexamethasone + tobramycin eye drops postoperatively 4 times a day in the 1st week. The eye drops were tapered over 4 weeks.

Patients were examined 30 days before Bevacizumab injection (D-30) and surgery and then at D7, M1, M3, and M6 after surgery. The investigators assessed recurrence at each visit. Both groups (day 0: D0) had a per-operative histopathological examination.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* clinical diagnosis of primary pterygium (stages 2,3 and 4) with surgical indication.

Exclusion Criteria:

* unable to attend the whole follow-up
* Bevacizumab contraindications (hypertension, bleeding tendencies, previous myocardial infarction or stroke, pregnant and lactating women).