title: PLASMA CONCENTRATIONS OF VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR IN RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY AFTER INTRAVITREAL BEVACIZUMAB INJECTION.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the changes in plasma concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), insulin growth factor (IGF-1), erythropoietin, pigment epithelium-derived factor, and IgG1 after bevacizumab intravitreal injection in infants with retinopathy of prematurity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven eyes from six infants who received intravitreal injection of bevacizumab were enrolled in this study. At preinjection and postinjection 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 weeks, 0.5 mL of blood was collected from each infant. The plasma concentrations of VEGF, insulin growth factor, erythropoietin, pigment epithelium-derived factor, and IgG1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Five patients received simultaneous bilateral bevacizumab injection; one patient received unilateral injection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the infants who received intravitreal bevacizumab injection, two were males and four were females. The mean gestational age was 26 ± 2 weeks. The mean birth weight was 870 g. The mean plasma VEGF concentration before bevacizumab injection was 2.05 ± 3.00 ng/mL; plasma level decreased significantly to 0.16 ± 0.10 ng/mL and to 0.14 ± 0.14 ng/mL (P = 0.028) after 1 week and 2 weeks, respectively. Moreover, the plasma concentrations of VEGF did not return to the original level in any of the samples until 8 weeks after the injection. However, mean plasma IgG1, erythropoietin, insulin growth factor, and PEDF concentrations did not change significantly during the interval between preinjection and any other follow-up time points.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intravitreal bevacizumab injections significantly reduce plasma VEGF concentration in infants with retinopathy of prematurity over a 7-week period.
authors.affiliation: Departments of *Pediatrics, and †Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Kosin University, Busan, South Korea; ‡BNG Eye Clinic, Busan, South Korea; §Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kosin University, Busan, South Korea; and ¶Gongjoo St. Mary's Eye Clinic, Gongjoo City, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yoo Rha
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Young Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Soo Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Gi Yup
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Hee Jong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cheon
authors.forename: Sang Joon
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000097:blood; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008297:Male; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000097:blood; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015843:Serpins / Q000097:blood; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood*; D000099174:Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D004921:Erythropoietin; D005136:Eye Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D015843:Serpins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000099174:Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor; C467484:VEGFA protein, human