title: Intravitreal low-dosage bevacizumab for retinopathy of prematurity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report on the therapeutic effect of intravitreal low-dose bevacizumab for treatment for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).
  
  
  METHODS
  The single-centre retrospective, non-comparative case series study included all infants who consecutively underwent intravitreal injection of 0.375 mg bevacizumab (0.03 ml) under light sedation in topical anaesthesia as therapy of ROP in zone I or zone II.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The clinical charts of 29 patients (57 eyes) with a median birth weight of 630 g (range: 290-1390 g) and median gestational age of 25 + 1 weeks (range: 23 + 1-30 weeks) were reviewed. Six children (12 eyes) were graded as ROP with zone I retinopathy and plus disease. The 23 remaining infants had extraretinal neovascularizations in zone II or partly zone I. The intravitreal bevacizumab injection was injected at a median age of 12 + 1 weeks (range: 7 + 4-21 + 4), the median follow-up was 4.2 months (range: from 3 days to 45.1 months). In all eyes treated, a regression of plus disease occurred within two to six days, retinal neovascularizations regressed within 2-3 weeks and pupillary rigidity improved. None except one child in exceptionally bad general health conditions needed a second intravitreal bevacizumab injection. In none of the infants, any ophthalmologic side-effects of the bevacizumab application were detected during the follow-up period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The intravitreal injection of a low dose of 0.375 mg bevacizumab showed a high efficacy as treatment for ROP. The question arises whether the low dosage of bevacizumab as compared to the dosage of 0.625 mg bevacizumab may be preferred.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Björn C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Harder
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: von Baltz
authors.forename: Jost B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Jonas
authors.forename: Frank C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Schlichtenbrede
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008297:Male; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab
keywords: bevacizumab; intra-ocular neovascularization; retinopathy of prematurity; vascular endothelial growth factor