Abstract
Purpose: :
To report retrospective, consecutive case series of Type 1 ROP (stage 3+) treated with intravitreal injection of Bevacizumab.
Methods: :
Twenty-two (33 eyes) premature infants with type 1 ROP from 7 hospitals in the South of Portugal.The study includes premature infants who received 0,03cc of intravitreal bevacizumab for the treatment of Type 1 ROP (stage 3+ ROP). Six patients from 23 to 28 weeks of gestational age (mean 25,8) received combined treatment with laser ablation of peripheral retina and sixteen from 24,2 to 29,6 (mean 25,9) weeks of gestational age received primary treatment with intravitreal bevacizumab. Fourteen infants from 23 to 26,5 weeks of gestational age (mean 25,1) had type 1 ROP in zone 1 or posterior zone 2 (AP-ROP) and eight from 24,2 to 29 weeks of gestational age (mean 27,1) had type 1 ROP in zone 2. The follow-up varies from 3 months to 5,5 years.
Results: :
Thirty one eyes (21 infants) were treated successfully with primary or combined treatment (only one injection of bevacizumab) with no apparent local or systemic complications. In two eyes (1 infant) it was necessary to perform a second injection of bevacizumab and one of the eyes progressed to stage 4 (retina successfully attached after surgery).
Conclusions: :
Intravitreal bevacizumab seems to be safe and effective in treating type 1 ROP as primary or combined treatment. Dose, timing of injection and follow-up visits are subjects that need additional research.
Keywords: retinopathy of prematurity • vascular endothelial growth factor • retinal neovascularization