title: Intravitreal bevacizumab versus laser treatment in type 1 retinopathy of prematurity: report on fluorescein angiographic findings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the structural outcome at 9 months of eyes treated with intravitreal injection of bevacizumab with fellow eyes treated with conventional laser photoablation in zone I type 1 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Single randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  All inborn babies with type 1 zone I ROP at a single institution were included in the study. One eye was randomized to receive an intravitreal injection of 0.5 mg bevacizumab; the fellow eye received conventional laser photoablation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Digital fundus photographs and fluorescein angiography (FA) using the RetCam (Clarity Medical Systems Inc., Pleasanton, CA) were performed before treatment and 9 months after treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Presence of retinal and choroidal abnormalities on FA at 9 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen infants were enrolled; 1 died 3 months after birth. One laser-treated eye progressed to stage 5 retinal detachment. The remaining 23 eyes had favorable structural results at the 9-month follow-up and provided FA results. At 9 months of age, all eyes treated with a bevacizumab injection were noted to have abnormalities at the periphery (large avascular area, abnormal branching, shunt) or the posterior pole (hyperfluorescent lesion, absence of foveal avascular zone). These posterior and peripheral lesions were not observed in the majority of the lasered eyes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study documents significant vascular and macular abnormalities of eyes in the bevacizumab group. Long-lasting implications of these abnormalities for visual function of the child need to be studied.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: dlepore@rm.unicatt.it.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lepore
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Graham E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Molle
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baldascino
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Orazi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sammartino
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Velia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Purcaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giannantonio
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Papacci
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Costantino
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romagnoli
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D052577:Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010781:Photography; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; 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