Research Article
Anila Naz, Rahila Najam, Bu
Abstract
Bevacizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), an isoform of Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) thatstimulates endothelial cell proliferation and subsequent migration. Bevacizumab specifically binds to the VEGF-A protein, thereby inhibiting the process of angiogenesis. As thrombosisand hypertension are the major systemic side effects of bevacizumab whether this drug couldpredispose a patient to thrombosis or not after intravitreal administration, as it is absorbed even through intravitreal administration, we determined the safety of the drug. For this purposetotal 10 patients were selected and followed for acute effects and 10 patients were administered three doses of intravitrealbevacizumab at monthlyinterval and followed for chronic effects of drug. Blood samples were taken to determine fibrinogen level, platelet count,prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) andsodium level by kit method. Blood pressure was also monitored of all the patients before and after the drug administration. There has been non-significant decrease in the fibrinogen levels in acute stage. Non-significant rise in the PT.Platelet counts decrease insignificantly. No significant change is observed in sodium levels after the injection in acute stage.Slight increase is noted in diastolic blood pressure where as slight decrease is noted in systolic blood pressure