title: Antivascular endothelial growth factor in the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the most recent literature regarding the clinical experience of antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapies in the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anti-VEGF agents in stage 3+ and aggressive posterior ROP have been shown to induce rapid ROP regression. However, significant reoccurrence rates can require repeat injections and thus longer term and more frequent follow-up. Initial studies reflect conflicting evidence regarding significant systemic side effects of these treatments, and outcomes in these patients past the first few years of life are yet to be definitively determined.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although anti-VEGF therapies show promise in the treatment of ROP, frequent reoccurrences and lack of thorough data about long-term side effects of pharmacologic intervention necessitate further research before anti-VEGF agents become the mainstay of ROP management.
authors.affiliation: aWills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA bRutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: Jinali R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Sinthu S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ranjan
authors.forename: Barry N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Wasserman
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D000069579:Ranibizumab / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019233:Retreatment; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D000069579:Ranibizumab