title: Intravitreal bevacizumab monotherapy for retinopathy of prematurity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment outcomes of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injections, used as a monotherapy in type 1 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review was performed for 17 type 1 ROP patients (34 eyes), who had IVB injection between July 2011 and June 2012. Birthweight, gestational age at birth, stage and location of ROP, IVB injection time, time of complete retinal vascularization, and additional treatments if needed, were noted. A total of 0.625 mg (0.025 mL) bevacizumab was injected intravitreally.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty eyes of 17 patients with type 1 ROP enrolled in the study were treated with IVB injection. Of them seven had aggressive posterior-ROP, six had stage 2 ROP, and four had stage 3 ROP. The mean gestational age was 28.44 weeks (range, 26-31 weeks); and the mean birthweight was 1151.88 g (range, 600-1600 g). The mean age for IVB injection was 35.47 weeks. The mean full retinal vascularization time was 136.6 ± 26.6 days. The mean follow-up time was 285.3 ± 70 days. ROP was regressed and retinal vascularization was completed in all cases except one eye, which had threshold disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IVB injection, used as a monotherapy, is an effective treatment approach in patients with type 1 ROP. Timely treatment of stage 2 and early stage 3 ROP in which disease progression was observed, prevents vitreoretinal membrane formation in posterior disease. Further studies need to be performed to determine the safety of IVB injection.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors: Alparslan
authors: A
authors: Şahin
authors: Muhammed
authors: M
authors: Şahin
authors: Abdullah Kürşat
authors: AK
authors: Cingü
authors: Yasin
authors: Y
authors: Çınar
authors: Fatih Mehmet
authors: FM
authors: Türkcü
authors: Harun
authors: H
authors: Yüksel
authors: Savaş
authors: S
authors: Kaya
authors: Şeyhmus
authors: Ş
authors: Arı
authors: İhsan
authors: İ
authors: Caça
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008297:Male; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab
keywords: bevacizumab; monotherapy; retinopathy of prematurity