title: Intravitreal ranibizumab monotherapy to treat retinopathy of prematurity zone II, stage 3 with plus disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Treatment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) stage 3 plus with bevacizumab is still very controversial. We report the outcome of 6 eyes of 4 premature infants with ROP stage 3 plus disease treated with ranibizumab monotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six eyes of 4 premature infants with threshold ROP 3 plus disease in zone II, were treated with one intravitreal injection of 0.03 ml ranibizumab. No prior laser or other intravitreal therapy was done. Fundus examination was performed prior to the intervention and at each follow-up visit. Changes in various mean vital parameters one week post intervention compared to one week pre-intervention were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The gestational age (GA) of patient 1, 2, 3, and 4 at birth was 24 5/7, 24 5/7, 24 4/7, and 26 1/7 weeks, respectively. The birth weight was 500 grams, 450 grams, 665 grams, and 745 grams, respectively. The GA at the date of treatment ranged from 34 3/7 to 38 6/7 weeks. In one infant, upper air way infection was observed 2 days post injection of the second eye. Three eyes required paracentesis to reduce the intraocular pressure after injection and to restore central artery perfusion. After six months, all eyes showed complete retinal vascularisation without any signs of disease recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment of ROP 3 plus disease with intravitreal ranibizumab was effective in all cases and should be considered for treatment. One infant developed an upper air way infection suspicious for nasopharyngitis, which might be a possible side effect of ranibizumab. Another frequent complication was intraocular pressure rise after injection. More patients with longer follow-up duration are mandatory to confirm the safety and efficacy of this treatment.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NCT02164604; Date of registration: 13.06.2014.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. marcel.menke@ksa.ch.|Department of Ophthalmology, Cantonal Hospital Aarau, Aarau, Switzerland. marcel.menke@ksa.ch.
authors.forename: Marcel N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Menke
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. framme.carsten@mh-hannover.de.|University Eye Hospital, Medical School Hannover, Hannover, Germany. framme.carsten@mh-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Framme
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. mathias.nelle@insel.ch.
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nelle
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. markus.berger@insel.ch.
authors.forename: Markus R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland. veit.sturm@kssg.ch.
authors.forename: Veit
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sturm
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. sebastian.wolf@insel.ch.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wolf
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D052577:Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D000069579:Ranibizumab / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000069579:Ranibizumab