Intravitreal low-dosage bevacizumab for retinopathy of prematurity.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To report on the therapeutic effect of intravitreal low-dose bevacizumab for treatment for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

METHODS:

The single-centre retrospective, non-comparative case series study included all infants who consecutively underwent intravitreal injection of 0.375 mg bevacizumab (0.03 ml) under light sedation in topical anaesthesia as therapy of ROP in zone I or zone II.

RESULTS:

The clinical charts of 29 patients (57 eyes) with a median birth weight of 630 g (range: 290-1390 g) and median gestational age of 25 + 1 weeks (range: 23 + 1-30 weeks) were reviewed. Six children (12 eyes) were graded as ROP with zone I retinopathy and plus disease. The 23 remaining infants had extraretinal neovascularizations in zone II or partly zone I. The intravitreal bevacizumab injection was injected at a median age of 12 + 1 weeks (range: 7 + 4-21 + 4), the median follow-up was 4.2 months (range: from 3 days to 45.1 months). In all eyes treated, a regression of plus disease occurred within two to six days, retinal neovascularizations regressed within 2-3 weeks and pupillary rigidity improved. None except one child in exceptionally bad general health conditions needed a second intravitreal bevacizumab injection. In none of the infants, any ophthalmologic side-effects of the bevacizumab application were detected during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS:

The intravitreal injection of a low dose of 0.375 mg bevacizumab showed a high efficacy as treatment for ROP. The question arises whether the low dosage of bevacizumab as compared to the dosage of 0.625 mg bevacizumab may be preferred.

• Authors: Björn C Harder, Stefan von Baltz, Jost B Jonas, Frank C Schlichtenbrede
• Journal: Acta ophthalmologica (Acta Ophthalmol) Vol. 92 Issue 6 Pg. 577-81 (Sep 2014) ISSN: 1755-3768 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 24020921 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2013 Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Chemical References

• Angiogenesis Inhibitors
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
• VEGFA protein, human
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
• Bevacizumab

Topics

• Angiogenesis Inhibitors (administration & dosage)
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized (administration & dosage)
• Bevacizumab
• Birth Weight
• Female
• Gestational Age
• Humans
• Infant
• Infant, Very Low Birth Weight
• Intravitreal Injections
• Male
• Retinal Neovascularization (classification, drug therapy)
• Retinopathy of Prematurity (classification, drug therapy)
• Retrospective Studies
• Treatment Outcome
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (antagonists & inhibitors)