title: Role of VEGF Inhibition in the Treatment of Retinopathy of Prematurity.
abstract: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a potentially blinding disease characterized by retinal neovascularization, which eventually can lead to tractional retinal detachment. Improvements have been made regarding the management of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) since it was described in the Cryotherapy for Retinopathy of Prematurity study. A more appropriate time for therapeutic intervention was defined by the Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity (ETROP) trial. Advances in screening strategies with the use of digital imaging systems are now available. All of this and the use of laser photocoagulation and vitreoretinal surgery have contributed to significant increases in favorable outcomes and decreases in child blindness secondary to ROP. Recently the use of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors has been introduced to the armamentarium for the treatment of ROP. The purpose of this review article is to evaluate the role of VEGF inhibition in the treatment of ROP.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology , Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston , Massachusetts , USA.
authors.forename: Luai
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eldweik
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology , Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston , Massachusetts , USA.
authors.forename: Iason S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Mantagos
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D052577:Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / 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
keywords: Extremely low birth weight infants; oxygen saturation; prematurity; retinopathy of prematurity; vascular endothelial growth factor