THE EFFECT OF INTRAVITREAL AVASTIN ON SYSTEMIC BLOOD PRESSURE IN CONTROLLED HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

To study the effect of intravitreal avastin on systemic blood pressure in controlled hypertensive patients. This is a retrospective study to evaluate blood pressure changes in hypertensive patients with ischemic ocular pathologies after a 0.05 ml (1.25 mg) intravitreal avastin injection. It included 40 patients with retinal vascular diseases; their blood pressure was measured before the treatment (IVA) as a baseline, and then it was measured after1 day, 1 week, 4 weeks, and then monthly for at least 3 months. All patients were given the same concentration of avastin intravitreally (0.05 ml), and their blood pressure was measured in supine position using the digital sphygmomanometer. The elevation in blood pressure was noted in 90% of the patients from the baseline on the first day postinjection. No significant changes were observed on blood pressure in 1 week, 4 weeks, and other readings postinjection. Treating ocular vascular diseases with intravitreal avastin is safe in controlled hypertensive patients.