**5.1 Role of bevacizumab in the treatment of corneal vascularization**

Efficacy of bevacizumab therapy has been highlighted in several studies. Manzano et al 6 in an experimental study on rats showed that a concentration of 4 mg/mL bevacizumab limits corneal neovascularization. Dastjerdi et al7 in their study used 1% bevacizumab for 3 weeks in 10 eyes of 10 patients and followed them up to 24 weeks. They found that short-term topical bevacizumab therapy reduced the severity of corneal neovascularization without local or systemic adverse effects. Chen et al8 used subconjunctival injection of bevacizumab in doses 0.25-2.5 mg twice per week for 2 to 8 weeks in rabbits and concluded that it is effective in preventing corneal neovascularization in acute phase of various kinds of corneal inflammation. Carrasco 9 reported the use of bevacizumab in an 81-year old woman with corneal neovascularization secondary to herpetic stromal keratitis. Treatment with subconjunctival bevacizumab showed regression of corneal neovascularization. Bock et al10 in their study used topical bevacizumab (5x/day; 5 mg/ml) for 15 days in corneal neovascularization of various cause and concluded that it inhibits corneal neovascularization without obvious corneal epithelial side effects.

#### **5.2 Role of bevacizumab in the treatment of corneal vascularization after keratoplasty**

Efficacy of bevacizumab therapy has been highlighted in several studies. Schollmayer et al11 performed a retrospective case series study of nine eyes of nine patients with corneal transplant and neovascularization. Five eyes were administered topical bevacizumab 5 mg/ml 4 times daily for a month. Three eyes were administered bevacizumab subconjunctivally 2.5 mg/0.1 ml and one eye was administered bevacizumab both topically as well via subconjunctival route. After a follow up of 6 months, it was concluded that topical and subconjunctival bevacizumab is effective in regressing neovascularization in keratoplasty patients.

Saxena et al12 used topical bevacizumab (4 mg/4 ml) in dose of one drop twice daily for 15 days in a patient of corneal graft rejection and did a follow up after 1 month, 6 month and 9 months. After 1 month, his BCVA improved to 20/120 from finger counting 1meter. Corneal vascularization and stromal haze regressed. After 6 months, his BCVA improved to 20/60

Topical Bevacizumab Therapy in Graft Rejection After Penetrating Keratoplasty 133

with further regression in corneal vascularization and stromal haze resulted. At 9-month follow-up, he maintained BCVA of 20/60. Thus they concluded that short-term topical bevacizumab therapy may potentially offer a safer and more effective alternative in treating

Despite effective results, corneal thinning and epithelial defect following topical

Although limited number of studies are available in literature, growing evidence suggests that bevacizumab offers a safe and effective mode of treatment for graft rejection following

[1] Maguire MG, Stark WJ, Gottsch JD, et al. Risk factors for corneal graft failure and

[3] Cursiefen C, Masli S, Fong T, et al. Roles of thrombospondin- 1 and -2 in regulating corneal and iris angiogenesis. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2004; 45: 1117-1124. [4] Bachmann BO, Bock F, Wiegand SJ, et al. Promotion of graft survival by vascular

[5] Erdurmus M, Totan Y. Subconjunctival bevacizumab for corneal neovascularisation.

[6] Manzano RPA, Peyman GA, Khan P, Petros E, Kivilcim CM, Ren M, et al. Br J

[7] Dastjerdi MH, Al-Arfaj KM, Nallasamy N, Hamrah P, Jurkunas UV, Pineda R 2nd, et al.

[8] Wei-Li Chen W , Chung-Tien Lin, Nien-Ting Lin, et al. Bevacizumab on corneal

[9] Carrasco MA. Subconjunctival bevacizumab for corneal neovascularization in herpetic

[10] Bock F, König Y, Kruse F, Baier M, Cursiefen C. Bevacizumab eyedrops inhibit

[11] Schollmayer P, Stunf S, Lavric A. Pfeifer V. Topical and subconjunctival bevacizumab in

neovascularisation in different rabbit models of corneal angiogenesis. Invest

corneal neovascularization. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2008; 246: 281-

corneal neovascularization in keratoplasty patients. Acta Ophthalmologica,

Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2007; 245: 1577-1579.

rejection in collaborative corneal transplantation studies: Collaborative Corneal Transplantation Studies Research Group. Ophthalmology. 1994; 101: 1536-1547. [2] Philipp W, Speicher L, Humpel C. Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and

its receptors in inflamed and vascularised human corneas. Invest Ophthalmol Vis

endothelial growth factor-A neutralization after high-risk corneal transplantation.

graft rejection after penetrating keratoplasty (Fig. 2).

bevacizumab instillation has also been reported.13

Sci. 2000;41: 2514-2522.

Arch Ophthalmol. 2008; 126: 71-77.

Arch Ophthalmol. 2009;127:381-389.

Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2010 51:6277-6285.

stromal keratitis Cornea. 2008;27: 743-745.

2008;86: 0. doi: 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2008.570.x

Ophthalmol. 2007;91:804-807.

**6. Conclusion** 

**7. References** 

284.

penetrating keratoplasty.

A

B

Fig. 2. Effect of topical bevacizumab on corneal neovasculariszation in a post-keratoplasty patient. A. Pre-treatment: Severe corneal vascularization and stromal haze is present. B. Post-treatment: Marked regression of corneal vascularization and reduction of stromal haze is observed

with further regression in corneal vascularization and stromal haze resulted. At 9-month follow-up, he maintained BCVA of 20/60. Thus they concluded that short-term topical bevacizumab therapy may potentially offer a safer and more effective alternative in treating graft rejection after penetrating keratoplasty (Fig. 2).

Despite effective results, corneal thinning and epithelial defect following topical bevacizumab instillation has also been reported.13

### **6. Conclusion**

132 Keratoplasties – Surgical Techniques and Complications

A

B Fig. 2. Effect of topical bevacizumab on corneal neovasculariszation in a post-keratoplasty patient. A. Pre-treatment: Severe corneal vascularization and stromal haze is present. B. Post-treatment: Marked regression of corneal vascularization and reduction of stromal haze

is observed

Although limited number of studies are available in literature, growing evidence suggests that bevacizumab offers a safe and effective mode of treatment for graft rejection following penetrating keratoplasty.
