Intravitreal bevacizumab monotherapy for type-1 prethreshold, threshold, and aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity - 27 month follow-up results from Turkey.

PURPOSE

To study the efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injection as a single treatment for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

METHODS

This was a prospective interventional case series study performed in a clinical practice setting; a total of 122 patients including prethreshold (type 1) (n  = 79, 152 eyes, six unilateral), threshold (n = 12, 24 eyes), and aggressive posterior (APROP) (n = 31, 62 eyes); cases were included without any randomization or masking. A total of 253 IVB injections, 238 in the first session, 11 in the second session, and four in the third session were performed, and followed up for a mean of 89.155 ± 4.277 (range 82 to 105) weeks of postmenstrual age (PMA). Regression of ROP, maturation of the retina, and associated complications were evaluated.

RESULTS

Total regression was achieved in 227/238 eyes (95.4 %) after the first dose injection. The remaining 11 received a second injection, after which an additional seven (234/238; 98.2 %) regressed; after the third injection, the remaining 4 (238/238; 100 %) regressed. Complete retinal vascular maturation was achieved without any significant complications in all of the cases.

CONCLUSIONS

IVB injection as monotherapy seems to be a very effective treatment modality for ROP. Based on timely intervention, IVB as a single treatment modality can salvage almost all ROP cases before stage 4.