Emerging treatments for retinopathy of prematurity.
Retinopathy or prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of potentially preventable blindness in children. With increased survival of infants born at earlier gestational ages the number of infants at risk from vision loss from ROP has increased. Current treatments consist of close monitoring of oxygen saturation levels, peripheral retinal ablation by cryotherapy or laser photocoagulation, and vitreoretinal surgery. Research in the area of angiogenesis has lead to numerous breakthroughs. Emerging treatments for ROP are targeting the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) pathways, as well as dietary supplementation with omega-3-polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Department of Ophthalmology, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Iason S
IS
Mantagos
Deborah K
DK
Vanderveen
Lois E H
LE
Smith
D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000150:complications; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000639:trends*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I