title: The vascularization process after intravitreal ranibizumab injections for aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity.
abstract: To evaluate the retinal vascularization process after intravitreal ranibizumab was administered to infants with aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity (AP-ROP).
  Twenty-six eyes of 13 infants with AP-ROP who received 0.25 mg intravitreal ranibizumab were retrospectively investigated. The patients were evaluated at weekly follow-up visits, and the findings were analyzed after retinal vascularization was complete.
  The results showed regression in the AP-ROP of all the patients within the first 48-72 h. Average time for complete vascularization of the nasal quadrant (zone II) was postmenstrual week 45 (range 41-56), and vascularization of the temporal quadrant (zone III) was completed in the postmenstrual week 56 (range 50-65). Reactivation was observed in seven patients, on average at postmenstrual week 42; two of these patients underwent additional treatment. Two patients presented with avascular areas in the peripheral retina despite being 1 year old.
  These results showed that retinal vascularization following intravitreal ranibizumab was completed after a delay in patients with AP-ROP. Further studies are necessary to evaluate when and how vascularization occurs after intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Adana Numune Training and Research Hospital, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emine Alyamaç
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Sukgen
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Adana Numune Training and Research Hospital, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Koçluk
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008297:Male; D000069579:Ranibizumab / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000069579:Ranibizumab