title: Subtenon Injections of Ranibizumab Arrest Growth in Early Recurrent Pterygium.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Currently the only treatment for recurrent pterygium is surgery. This is a phase 1 trial investigating ranibizumab as a medical treatment for recurrent pterygium.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the safety and efficacy of subtenon Ranibizimab for recurrent pterygia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects with recurrent pterygium received subtenon ranibizumab and were followed for 1 year. Safety parameters were measured. Photographs were taken and quantitatively analyzed to measure the short-term (2 months) and long-term (5-26 months) response to treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  University of New Mexico Eye Clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight subjects with recurrent pterygia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subtenon delivery of 0.5 to 2 mg of ranibizumab, at day 0, month 1, and month 2.
  
  
  METHODS
  Safety parameters included visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and assessment of ocular surface. Efficacy was assessed by comparing photographs taken at day 0 with a short-term follow-up photograph taken at month 2 and a long-term follow-up image taken at the final patient visit (range 5-26 months). Quantitative analysis of photographs was performed to measure vascularity in the treated zone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four subjects had an arrest of pterygium growth with a visual reduction in vascularity and a quantitative reduction in the area of vascularization (average vascularized area in short-term follow-up images was 51% of the baseline photos at day 0, and in the long-term photos was 36% of day 0). The other four subjects had a less marked reduction in their vascularity in the short-term photos (69% of their baseline photos). This resulted in two subjects withdrawing from the study early. Long-term quantitative analysis for the two remaining "nonresponders," who completed the study, showed an average vascularized area that was 71% of that in their baseline photos. The long-term photos in these subjects did not appear to have a clinically relevant difference from the short-term photos.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In half of the subjects, subtenon ranibizumab appeared to arrest growth. Although the response is variable, this may warrant the drug's use when attempting to control growth of recurrent pterygia, and may prevent consecutive surgery for some patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology (L.R.), University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM; Department of Ophthalmology (J.M.B.), University of Utah Health Center, Salt Lake City, Utah; and School of Medicine (Y.Q.), University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: Julia M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Byrd
authors.forename: Yousuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qaseem
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D056965:Injections, Intraocular; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011625:Pterygium / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000069579:Ranibizumab / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012008:Recurrence; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000069579:Ranibizumab