Intravitreal bevacizumab (avastin) for choroidal neovascularization associated with deferoxamine retinopathy

To report the effect of antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy for choroidal neovascularisation associated with deferoxamine toxicity.

In an interventional case report, intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy was used for the treatment of a choroidal neovascularization in a patient with deferoxamine retinopathy.

A 54-year-old woman with beta-thalassemia intermedia and known deferoxamine toxicity presented with recent vision loss to the left eye secondary to a choroidal neovascular membrane. Visual acuity had decreased from 20/30 to 20/80 in the left eye. Funduscopic examination and fluorescein angiography revealed diffuse retinal pigment epithelial mottling and a choroidal neovascular membrane. Treatment with three doses of intravitreal bevacizumab led to a good structural outcome and improvement of the visual acuity. The patient later developed a choroidal neovascular membrane in the right eye. Similar treatment with intravitreal bevacizumab also led to a rapid structural resolution of the lesion, albeit with a more modest improvement in the visual acuity.

Therapy with intravitreal bevacizumab might be an option for the treatment of choroidal neovascularization in the context of deferoxamine toxicity.