Baseline subfoveal CT may predict response to intravitreal bevacizumab

A higher baseline subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) in patients with macular edema (ME) after retinal vein occlusion  may predict non-response to treatment with intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) and may potentially be used as an indicator of early switching, according to a study.

In this retrospective analysis, 126 treatment-naive eyes with ME after RVO were treated with IVB. Eyes that did not respond to IVB were switched to different treatments.

Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) significantly improved and central macular thickness (CMT) decreased significantly over the first 2 years and 4 years, respectively.

Over the course of the study, 33% of eyes required switching, 26.9% to steroids and 6.3% to other anti-VEGF therapies due to a glaucoma diagnosis. Eyes required switching after a 12.4 ± 8.3 months and an average of 8 ± 4.1 injections.

Patients that were unresponsive to treatment had significantly worse BCVA, higher CMT and SFCT at baseline.

Reference
Aljundi W, Gradinger F, Langenbucher A, et al. Choroidal thickness as a possible predictor of non-response to intravitreal bevacizumab for macular edema after retinal vein occlusion. Sci Rep. 2023;13(1):451. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-27753-7. PMID: 36624124.