Intravitreal bevacizumab monotherapy for retinopathy of prematurity.

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment outcomes of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injections, used as a monotherapy in type 1 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was performed for 17 type 1 ROP patients (34 eyes), who had IVB injection between July 2011 and June 2012. Birthweight, gestational age at birth, stage and location of ROP, IVB injection time, time of complete retinal vascularization, and additional treatments if needed, were noted. A total of 0.625 mg (0.025 mL) bevacizumab was injected intravitreally.

RESULTS

Thirty eyes of 17 patients with type 1 ROP enrolled in the study were treated with IVB injection. Of them seven had aggressive posterior-ROP, six had stage 2 ROP, and four had stage 3 ROP. The mean gestational age was 28.44 weeks (range, 26-31 weeks); and the mean birthweight was 1151.88 g (range, 600-1600 g). The mean age for IVB injection was 35.47 weeks. The mean full retinal vascularization time was 136.6 ± 26.6 days. The mean follow-up time was 285.3 ± 70 days. ROP was regressed and retinal vascularization was completed in all cases except one eye, which had threshold disease.

CONCLUSION

IVB injection, used as a monotherapy, is an effective treatment approach in patients with type 1 ROP. Timely treatment of stage 2 and early stage 3 ROP in which disease progression was observed, prevents vitreoretinal membrane formation in posterior disease. Further studies need to be performed to determine the safety of IVB injection.