Blood pressure changes after intravitreal bevacizumab in patients grouped by ocular pathology

We evaluated the effects of intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (Avastin; Novartis, Basel, Switzerland) on blood pressure (BP) in the context of ocular vascular pathology.

This study retrospectively examined 135 consecutive patients treated with intravitreal injections of 1.25 mg bevacizumab for retinal vascular disease; there were 61 cases of diabetic retinopathy, 30 of retinal vein occlusion, 35 of choroidal neo-vascularization (CNV), and 9 of other retinal vascular diseases. BP was measured before injection and at 30 min, 1 day, 1 week, 3 weeks, and thereafter monthly over a 6-month period.

In the CNV group, 30-min post-injection systolic values were significantly higher than baseline, and systolic and diastolic values after 1 day, 1 week, and 3 weeks were significantly lower than before injection. No other pressure measurement differed significantly from baseline values in the other groups.

Intravitreal bevacizumab injection is safe in terms of its effect on BP, regardless of ocular pathology.