J Korean Med Sci.  2012 Dec;27(12):1580-1585. 10.3346/jkms.2012.27.12.1580.

Comparison of Systemic Adverse Events Associated with Intravitreal Anti-VEGF Injection: Ranibizumab versus Bevacizumab

• Hwang DJ
• Kim YW
• Woo SJ
• Park KH

• KMID: 2157986
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2012.27.12.1580

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of systemic adverse events in patients treated with intravitreal injections of bevacizumab or ranibizumab, and to evaluate whether compared to ranibizumab administration, bevacizumab constitutes a higher risk for systemic adverse events. A retrospective review was conducted for 916 consecutive patients treated with at least 1 intravitreal injection of bevacizumab or ranibizumab. Cox regression was performed to assess whether a variable had predictive value for occurrence of new systemic adverse events and to account for different follow-up times. A total of 702 patients were analyzed; 503 patients received bevacizumab alone, and 199 patients received ranibizumab alone. Systemic adverse events occurred in 10 of 702 patients (1.4%): 7 in the bevacizumab group (7/503; 1.4%) and 3 in the ranibizumab group (3/199; 1.5%). This difference was not statistically significant (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.573). Cox proportional hazards analysis of 4 models did not reveal a covariate that significantly changed the hazard for systemic adverse events. In conclusion, compared to ranibizumab, bevacizumab may not increase the risk of systemic adverse events in patients receiving intravitreal injections.

Keyword

Adverse Drug Event; Bevacizumab; Intravitreal Injections; Ranibizumab

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Angiogenesis Inhibitors/administration & dosage/*adverse effects
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/administration & dosage/*adverse effects
Cerebral Infarction/etiology
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
*Intravitreal Injections
Male
Middle Aged
Myocardial Infarction/etiology
Odds Ratio
Proportional Hazards Models
Retinal Diseases/drug therapy
Retrospective Studies
Angiogenesis Inhibitors
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized

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