Objective
To evaluate the effect and safety of topical anti‐human vascular endothelial growth factor bevacizumab in dogs with persistent corneal vascularization.
Animals studied
Prospective case series of 15 adult dogs (20 eyes).
Procedures
Dogs received 0.25% bevacizumab eye drops BID for 28 days. Follow‐ups were scheduled 28 days and 6–7 months after treatment start. Macroscopic findings were scored for conjunctival hyperemia, chemosis, ocular discharge, corneal edema, vascularization, and pigmentation. Vascularized area was assessed by analyzing photographs using an imaging software.
Results
The treatment response was variable. Some cases showed a marked reduction in vascularized area and edema, while other eyes had subtle signs of improvement. Vascularization score decreased from 1.5 to 1.1 and vascularized area was reduced by 48.8% after 28 days. A thinning of vessels, consolidation of areal bleedings into fine vascular networks, decrease in distal vessel branching, and a change from blurry vascularized beds into demarcated thin vessels were observed. One dog developed a SCCED 6 months after the last bevacizumab administration. Two dogs died 4 and 4.5 months after the last bevacizumab administration, aged 16 and 12 years, respectively. In all events, a causal relationship is unlikely but cannot be ruled out with certainty.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that topical 0.25% bevacizumab may be an effective treatment option for corneal vascularization in dogs. Further long‐term placebo‐controlled studies with larger patient cohorts are recommended to provide scientific evidence of efficacy and to investigate dosage, safety, possible use as a single treatment, and routes of administration.
ObjectiveTo evaluate ocular and general safety of topical anti‐human VEGF bevacizumab and the effect on serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) values in healthy dogs.ProceduresNine university‐owned beagles received 0.05 mL of 0.25% bevacizumab eyedrops (Avastin®, Roche) in one eye and 0.05 mL of 0.9% saline solution in the other eye as a control, administered at 12 hours intervals over a period of 28 days. Continuous monitoring for vital parameters and ocular examinations were conducted. Complete blood counts including hematology and coagulation parameters were performed before trial start as well as 24 hours, 7 days, and 28 days after trial start. Measurements of serum VEGF values were obtained using an ELISA‐based approach at days 0, 7, and 28. The experiment was designed as a masked placebo‐controlled study.ResultsNo clinical signs of ocular toxicity or systemic incompatibility were noted in any dog at any time point of the study. No signs of pain were present in any dog at any time point. All blood count values remained in normal clinical ranges without relevant variation. There was no significant change in mean serum VEGF values between day 0 and day 7 and between day 0 and day 28.ConclusionsThe results indicate that topical bevacizumab treatment is safe in healthy dogs. However, further studies are needed to assess safety and efficacy in diseased dogs with naturally occurring corneal neovascularization.
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