Evaluation of the Effects of Intravitreal Injection of Bevacizumab on Controlateral Eye Treated with Conventional Laser Photoablation

Abstract

 

Purpose:

 

to evaluate effects of Intravitreal injection of Bevacizumab (IVB) on the controlateral eye treated with conventional laser photoablation.

 

Methods:

 

from September 1st ‘09 until June 30th 2010 5 inborn babies with type 1 zone 1 ROP were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial to compare unilateral intravitreal Avastin injection with controlateral conventional laser photoablation. At the time of treatment the first eye was randomized for intravitreal injection of 0.5mg of Avastin in a 0.02 ml BS solution; the second eye, used as control, underwent to conventional laser photoablation of the peripheral avascular retina.Digital fundus and fluorangiographic images from the eye randomized for conventional laser photoablation were compared with digital images of 5 babies previously bilaterally treated with conventional laser photoablation at six months and one years after treatment. A double blind retrospective analysis of RETCAM digital fundus images and fluorescein angiography was performed by two ROP experts.

 

Results:

 

vessel morphology, macular feature, abnormal retinal and choroideal perfusion and peripheral shunts have been evaluated. Macular abnormalities where observed in 3 babies (1 from Avastin group, 2 from Laser group), abnormal peripheral shunts in 2 babies, vascular morphology was normal in 5 babies and mild tortuosity was find in 4 babies.

 

Conclusions:

 

the absence of significant differences between two groups demonstrate that the injection of Bevacizumab doesn't produce visible effects in the controlateral eye eye treated with conventional laser photoablation

 

Clinical Trial:

 

https://eudract.ema.europa.eu 2009-012609-20

 

Keywords: retinopathy of prematurity