title: SERUM VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR AFTER BEVACIZUMAB OR RANIBIZUMAB TREATMENT FOR RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in the systemic circulation after intravitreal injections of bevacizumab (IVB) or ranibizumab (IVR) in patients with Type 1 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who had Type 1 ROP and received IVB or IVR were enrolled. Serum samples were collected before and up to 12 weeks after IVB or IVR treatment. The main outcome measurements were serum levels of VEGF up to 12 weeks after anti-VEGF treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 10 patients with Type 1 ROP were enrolled in this study. All the eyes had complete resolution of abnormal neovascularization of ROP after IVB or IVR. In the direct comparison of IVB with IVR, serum VEGF was found to be suppressed more in patients with Type 1 ROP who received IVB treatment, compared with those who received IVR treatment (P = 0.01, P = 0.03, and P = 0.03, respectively, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after intravitreal injection).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum VEGF levels in patients with Type 1 ROP were suppressed for 2 months after treatment with IVB, and VEGF levels were less affected after IVR treatment. Further studies are warranted to investigate the long-term effects of VEGF changes in ROP patients.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan; †Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; ‡Laboratory for Epidemiology, Department of Health Care Management, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; and §Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wei-Chi
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chia-Pang
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Reyin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lien
authors.forename: Nan-Kai
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yen-Po
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: An-Ning
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: Kuan-Jen
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tun-Lu
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yih-Shiou
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Chi-Chun
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068258:Bevacizumab / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000069579:Ranibizumab / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D000069579:Ranibizumab