부산대학교 도서관

PURPOSE:: To assess whether repeated use of intravitreal bevacizumab injections in treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is associated with long-term decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR). METHODS:: Three hundred charts were retrospectively reviewed, of which 60 patients met criteria for inclusion. Criteria were reception of at least one bevacizumab injection, baseline GFR prior to initial bevacizumab injection, and end GFR 6–24 months after baseline. Analysis controlled for time between baseline and end GFR measurements, blood pressure, hemoglobin A1C, race, sex, age, and use of an ACE-inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker. Significance testing was performed with step-wise multiple linear regression. The significance threshold was 5%, and all tests were two-sided. RESULTS:: Patients received a range of 1–17 injections (average 3.6). Average baseline GFR was 76 ± 38 mL/min, and end GFR was 63 ± 39 mL/min. The number of injections patients received was not associated with end GFR (p = 0.72), GFR reduction (p = 0.88), or percent GFR reduction (p = 0.49). CONCLUSION:: Increased number of intravitreal bevacizumab injections at therapeutic dosage was not associated with reduced GFR in PDR patients. This study supports that intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents are renally safe.