An increased incidence of CHF has been observed in a clinical trial of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma when receiving bevacizumab with a cumulative doxorubicin dose greater than 300 mg/m2. This phase III clinical trial compared rituximab/cyclophosphamide/doxorubicin/vincristine/prednisone (R-CHOP) plus bevacizumab to R-CHOP without bevacizumab. While the incidence of CHF was, in both arms, above that previously observed for doxorubicin therapy, the rate was higher in the R-CHOP plus bevacizumab arm. These results suggest that close clinical observation with appropriate cardiac assessments should be considered for patients exposed to cumulative doxorubicin doses greater than 300 mg/m2 when combined with bevacizumab.

Hypersensitivity reactions/infusion reactions (see section 4.4 and Post-marketing experience below)

In some clinical trials anaphylactic and anaphylactoid-type reactions were reported more frequently in patients receiving Avastin in combination with chemotherapy than with chemotherapy alone. The incidence of these reactions in some clinical trials of Avastin is common (up to 5% in bevacizumab-treated patients).

Elderly patients

In randomised clinical trials, age > 65 years was associated with an increased risk of developing arterial thromboembolic events, including cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs), transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs) and myocardial infarctions (MIs). Other reactions with a higher frequency seen in patients over 65 were grade 3-4 leucopenia and thrombocytopenia; and all grade neutropenia, diarrhoea, nausea, headache and fatigue as compared to those aged  65 years when treated with Avastin (see sections 4.4 and 4.8 under Thromboembolism).

No increase in the incidence of other reactions, including gastrointestinal perforation, wound healing complications, hypertension, proteinuria, congestive heart failure, and haemorrhage was observed in elderly patients (> 65 years) receiving Avastin as compared to those aged  65 years treated with Avastin.

Paediatric population

The safety of Avastin in children and adolescents has not been established.

Ovarian failure/fertility (see sections 4.4 and 4.6)

In NSABP C-08, a phase III trial of Avastin in adjuvant treatment of patients with colon cancer, the incidence of new cases of ovarian failure, defined as amenorrhoea lasting 3 or more months, FSH level 30 mIU/mL and a negative serum β-HCG pregnancy test, has been eva luated in 295 premenopausal women. New cases of ovarian failure were reported in 2.6% patients in the mFOLFOX-6 group compared to 39% in the mFOLFOX-6 + bevacizumab group. After discontinuation of bevacizumab treatment, ovarian function recovered in 86.2% of these eva luable women. Long term effects of the treatment with bevacizumab on fertility are unknown.

Laboratory abnormalities

Decreased neutrophil count, decreased white blood cell count and presence of urine protein may be associated with Avastin treatment.

Across clinical trials, the following Grade 3 and 4 laboratory abnormalities occurred in patients treated with Avastin with at least a 2% difference compared to the corresponding control groups: hyperglycaemia, decreased haemoglobin, hypokalaemia, hyponatraemia, decreased white blood cell count, increased international normal