Antiangiogenic therapy with intravitreal bevacizumab for retinopathy of prematurity.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of antiangiogenic therapy with intravitreal bevacizumab for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).


METHODS
In this noncomparative, prospective, interventional case series, bevacizumab was injected into the vitreous of patients with ROP in three different groups: group I, patients with stage IVa or IVb ROP who had no response to conventional treatment; group II, patients with threshold ROP who were difficult to treat with conventional therapy because of poor visualization of the retina; and group III, patients with high-risk prethreshold or threshold ROP.


RESULTS
Thirteen patients (18 eyes; mean age +/- SD, 4 +/- 3 months; mean follow-up, 6 months) were included in the study. We found neovascular regression in 17 eyes. One patient with stage IVa ROP had spontaneous retinal reattachment after an intravitreal injection of bevacizumab. There were no serious ocular or systemic adverse events.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of bevacizumab may be promising in the treatment of patients with ROP. Further studies need to be performed to determine the safety and long-term efficacy of intravitreal injection of bevacizumab, either as first-line therapy or after failure of conventional therapy.
Quiroz-Mercado
Hugo
H
Retina Service, Asociacion Para Evitar La Ceguera en México (APEC), Mexico City, Mexico. retinamex@yahoo.com
Martinez-Castellanos
Maria A
MA
Hernandez-Rojas
Myriam L
ML
Salazar-Teran
Nelida
N
Chan
Robinson Vernon Paul
RV
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab