Comparison of Bevacizumab and Ranibizumab in the Treatment of Type 1 Retinopathy of Prematurity Affecting Zone 1.

PURPOSE

To investigate the effects of bevacizumab and ranibizumab in the treatment of type 1 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) affecting zone 1.

METHODS

Files of the patients who received intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) or ranibizumab (IVR) treatment for ROP affecting zone 1 were evaluated retrospectively. Spherical equivalent (SE) and axial length (AXL) measurements were performed at 1 year of adjusted age.

RESULTS

Sixty-eight eyes of 37 patients were included in the study. All patients had initial disease regression but 6 patients (4 in the IVB, 2 in the IVR group) showed reactivation (p = 0.679). The number of eyes with incomplete vascularization were 15 and 12 in the IVB and IVR groups, respectively (p = 0.725). Mean AXL was 20.50 ± 0.99 mm in the IVB group and 19.30 ± 0.48 mm in the IVR group (p < 0.001). Mean SE was -1.49 ± 2.38 dpt in the IVB group and 0.98 ± 2.18 dpt in the IVR group (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Bevacizumab and ranibizumab showed similar effectiveness in the treatment of type 1 ROP affecting zone 1. The AXL was longer and SE was more myopic in eyes treated with IVB. This difference might be caused by the longer intravitreal half-life of bevacizumab than ranibizumab.