Monday, September 5, 2011

VAMC - Veterans at Risk: Five More Reports of Avastin Injections Causing Blindness


Five more patients who were being treated with the drug Avastin for eye disease have been blinded, according to one of the patients and medical professionals.

The latest cases occurred last month at the Veterans Affairs medical center in Los Angeles. Late Thursday, the Department of Veterans Affairs confirmed that the problem had occurred and said that an investigation into the matter was continuing.

“Our deepest sympathy goes out to the veterans affected by the Avastin eye injections,” it said in a statement.

The recent incidents could lead doctors and patients to use the far more expensive Lucentis instead of Avastin. In its statement, Veterans Affairs said that its Los Angeles medical center had suspended use of Avastin for macular degeneration on Aug. 15 and was now buying Lucentis to resume therapy for the 30 to 40 treatments it administers a week.

The Source

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