Abstract
Background
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important stimulator of choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Bevacizumab (Avastin), ranibizumab (Lucentis) and pegaptanib sodium (Macugen) are anti-VEGF medications that have been used in the treatment of CNV. The purpose of our study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal injections of bevacizumab, ranibizumab and pegaptanib sodium in the treatment of CNV in a rat model.
Methods
Multiple CNV lesions were induced by laser photocoagulation of the retina in Brown-Norway rats. After 3 weeks, 17 rats were divided into three groups and received intravitreal injections of bevacizumab, ranibizumab or pegaptanib sodium in different dosages. The lesions were evaluated by fluorescein angiography 1, 7, 14, and 28 days later to assess the efficacy of these medications.
Results
Different doses of bevacizumab did not show any effect on stopping the leakage on fluorescein angiography on days 1, 7, 14, and 28. Ranibizumab and pegaptanib sodium did not stop the leakage of CNV either. No angiographic or histopathologic toxicity was observed.
Conclusions
These three anti-VEGF agents did not show any therapeutic effect on stopping CNV leakage in rats. Previous experiments with ranibizumab in monkeys resulted in a significant decrease in leakage of CNV. The difference may be due to the fact that both ranibizumab and bevacizumab are humanized and species-specific. There are several studies evaluating the effect of bevacizumab in non-primates. Since bevacizumab is humanized, the results of studies on non-primates may not be similar to humans and non-human primates.
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Acknowledgement
The authors would like to acknowledge John Sinard, MD, PhD, for his advice regarding pathology slides.
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Grant Support: Leir Foundation
The authors have full control of the primary data and will provide it to Graefe’s Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology at their request. Neither author has any conflict of interest, financial or otherwise, to report.
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Lu, F., Adelman, R.A. Are intravitreal bevacizumab and ranibizumab effective in a rat model of choroidal neovascularization?. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 247, 171–177 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-008-0936-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-008-0936-y