Intravitreal bevacizumab in combination with laser therapy for the treatment of severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) associated with vitreous or retinal hemorrhage.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To evaluate outcomes of intravitreal injection of bevacizumab for the treatment of severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) associated with vitreous or retinal hemorrhages (VH or RH).

METHODS:

This is a prospective interventional case-series. Fourteen eyes of eight premature infants with severe ROP associated with vitreous or retinal hemorrhage were consecutively included. In eight eyes, VH and/or RH precluding complete laser ablation developed at the time of laser treatment. In six eyes, VH developed early after laser ablation. All participants underwent intravitreal injection of 0.625 mg (0.025 ml) bevacizumab immediately after diagnosis of VH or RH. Follow-up examinations were performed at days 1, 3, 7, and 14, and 1, 2 and 3 months after injection. Main outcome measure was the absence of unfavorable structural outcomes.

RESULTS:

Mean gestational age was 27.6 weeks (range, 26-29 weeks) and mean birth weight was 1047 g (range, 780-1500 g). Mean gestational age at the time of injection was 35.4 weeks (range, 32-38 weeks). In all eyes, plus disease disappeared completely within 2 weeks and VH and/or RH was absorbed at last follow-up. None of the eyes developed unfavorable structural outcomes. No eyes needed additional injection or laser treatment. No major systemic or ocular complications were observed.

CONCLUSION:

In this small series of patients, intravitreal injection of bevacizumab was effective for treatment of severe retinopathy of prematurity associated with vitreous or retinal hemorrhage.

• Authors: Hossein Nazari, Mehdi Modarres, Mohammad Mehdi Parvaresh, Khalil Ghasemi Falavarjani
• Journal: Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology = Albrecht von Graefes Archiv fur klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie (Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol) Vol. 248 Issue 12 Pg. 1713-8 (Dec 2010) ISSN: 1435-702X [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 20582706 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

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

Topics

• Angiogenesis Inhibitors (therapeutic use)
• Antibodies, Monoclonal (therapeutic use)
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
• Bevacizumab
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Female
• Gestational Age
• Humans
• Infant
• Infant, Newborn
• Infant, Premature
• Infant, Very Low Birth Weight
• Intravitreal Injections
• Laser Coagulation
• Male
• Prospective Studies
• Retinal Hemorrhage (drug therapy, surgery, therapy)
• Retinopathy of Prematurity (drug therapy, surgery, therapy)
• Treatment Outcome
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Vitreous Hemorrhage (drug therapy, surgery, therapy)