The effect of intravitreal bevacizumab in the treatment of Coats disease in children.

[coats disease]

The purpose of this study was to determine if intravitreal bevacizumab can reduce subretinal exudates and exudative retinal detachment and facilitate the treatment of Coats disease in children .Prospective , interventional , and noncomparative case series of three eyes in three children with Coats disease were studied . All eyes received only intravitreal bevacizumab injection as the primary treatment . Ablative procedures , including cryotherapy , traditional continuous wave laser , or subthreshold diode micropulse laser , for diseased vessels were performed after subretinal fluid totally reabsorbed . One supplementary intravitreal bevacizumab injection was given after ablative procedures on the same day . The changes in pre- and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity were recorded . Serial color fundus photography , optical coherence tomography , and B-scan sonography were performed to measure treatment efficacy .After receiving one to three injections , all three patients had subretinal fluid completely reabsorbed . All patients had one session of subsequent ablative procedures for diseased vessels and supplementary intravitreal bevacizumab injection . No patients had recurrent subretinal fluid . Improved visual acuity was noted in two cases but was not detectable in the other . No ocular or systemic complications related to bevacizumab were noted during the entire course of follow-up .Intravitreal bevacizumab appears to be a well-tolerated treatment for children with Coats disease . A favorable response is observed when compared with other treatment modalities . It has the potential as an adjuvant therapy of vascular ablative procedures to improve final vision and facilitate ongoing treatment .