An important piece of research about treatment with anti-VEGF (anti vascular endothelial growth factor) for complications of Birdshot (and other inflammatory chorioretinal diseases) has been published. The complications tend to be macular oedema (ME) and choroidal neovascularisation (NVC). Some of you have been prescribed these anti-VEGFs – the most common of them being Lucentis (called ranibizumab) and Avastin (called bevacizumab).
The research findings seem to show that there have been positive results in retaining visual acuity for many people with complications when using these medications. However, the researchers also point out that it has not been possible to undertake randomised clinical trials for people with uveitis who have macular oedema or neovascularisation and are on anti-VEGF, so they are suggesting that further trials and longer follow up is needed. For us, it is another piece of preliminary good news, and another weapon in our armoury against Birdshot and its complications. We recognise that further testing is required, but at least it gives us another option.
This research was conducted in Italy and we attach below a summary of the findings.
Dev Ophthalmol. 2010; vol. 46 pp. 84-95
Antivascular endothelial growth factors for inflammatory chorioretinal disorders.
Battaglia Parodi M, Iacono P, Verbraak FD, Bandello F
Macular edema (ME) and choroidal neovascularization (CNV) can complicate the course of several inflammatory chorioretinal diseases, leading to a severe visual function impairment. The most frequently involved clinical entities include for example multifocal choroiditis, presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome, Beçhet’s disease, multiple evanescent white dot syndrome, birdshot chorioretinopathy, acute multifocal posterior placoid pigment epitheliopathy, serpiginous choroiditis, and persistent placoid maculopathy. Results that have reported on antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treatment in uveitic patients with CNV or ME have demonstrated positive results in many cases. However, bearing in mind that it has been proven impossible to perform randomized clinical trials with anti-VEGF in uveitic patients with CNV or ME, further studies with longer follow-ups are necessary to assess the value of this therapeutic approach.
PMID: 20703034
URL – http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20703034?dopt=Citation