Influence of intravitreal injection of bevacizumab on systemic blood pressure changes in patients with exudative form of age-related macular degeneration

• Published in: Hellenic journal of cardiology Vol. 54; no. 6; pp. 435 - 440
• Main Authors: Risimic, Dijana, Milenkovic, Svetislav, Nikolic, Dejan, Simeunovic, Dejan, Jaksic, Vesna, Stojkovic, Milenko, Stefanovic, Ivan, Jakovic, Natasa, Prostran, Milica
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 01.11.2013
• Subjects: Aged; Angiogenesis Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized - therapeutic use; Bevacizumab; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Female; Humans; Intravitreal Injections; Male; Prospective Studies; Sex Factors; Treatment Outcome; Wet Macular Degeneration - drug therapy; Wet Macular Degeneration - physiopathology
• ISSN: 2241-5955

The aim of our study was to examine blood pressure (BP) changes in hypertensive and nonhypertensive patients after intravitreal bevacizumab injections and to assess whether intravitreal bevacizumab carries an associated vascular risk in patients with exudative ocular disease. We also aimed to estimate the influence of gender. The study included 57 patients with age-related macular degeneration who received an intravitreal injection of 1.25 mg (0.1 mL) of bevacizumab. We analyzed systolic and diastolic BP values separately. Patients were divided into males and females, and into hypertensives and normotensives based on their BP values. BP was measured before bevacizumab administration, and 10 minutes, 1 hour, 2 days, 7 days and 6 weeks after the injection. Males had a statistically significant decline in systolic BP values 1 hour and 6 weeks after drug administration (p<0.05). The most notable significant decline in diastolic BP values was for males and for normotensive participants 1 hour after drug administration (p<0.05), while the most notable decline in diastolic BP values for females and for hypertensive participants was 7 days after drug administration, with statistical significance only for hypertensive patients (p<0.01). For males it was noticed that a statistically significant decline in diastolic BP persisted after 6 weeks (p<0.05). An intravitreal bevacizumab injection is safe as regards BP changes over 6 weeks post administration. Regular follow up for 6 weeks should be mandatory in order to promptly recognize individuals who have changes in BP values and include them in BP treatment in order to prevent complications.