Background: To analyze the functional and anatomical outcome after vitrectomy with subretinal rtPA (recombinant tissue plasminogen activator) combined with or without an intravitreal Bevacizumab injection.
Patients and methods: Retrospective, consecutive case series of 31 pseudophakic patients with submacular hemorrhage (SMH) due to neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) treated with vitrectomy, subretinal rtPA and pneumatic air displacement with or without an additional intravitreal Bevacizumab injection. The primary endpoints were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and central macular thickness (CMT) measured by SD‑OCT. The secondary endpoint was a displacement of hemorrhage from the subretinal space three months after surgery.
Results: 31 eyes of 31 patients were treated with vitrectomy and subretinal rtPA. 17/31 were treated simultaneously with an intravitreal Bevacizumab injection (group +B) and 14/31 without (group -B). The mean visual acuity improved significantly in both groups (from 1.37±0.39 to 1.03±0.57 logMAR in +B and from 1.48±0.48 to 1.01±0.38 logMAR in group -B, p<0.05). The mean CMT decreased in group +B from 607±179 μm to 424±205 μm (p = 0.2) and in group -B from 722±216 μm to 460±202 μm (p<0.05). A central displacement of the hemorrhage could be achieved in 47% in group +B, whereas in group -B displacement could be achieved in 50% (p = 0.44).
Conclusions: Vitrectomy with subretinal rtPA injection and air tamponade with or without simultaneous intravitreal Bevacizumab injection displaces SMH and improves BCVA effectively. In comparison, the postoperative outcome is comparable regardless of whether or not intravitreal bevacizumab is applied simultaneously.