Abstract
Purpose: :
Systemic safety concerning the intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) patients remains unknown. The purpose of this study is to determine systemic safety after intravitreal bevacizumab, an anti-VEGF antibody, injection in newborn rabbit eyes, hoping to provide clues for the use of anti-VEGF for ROP eyes.
Methods: :
Four groups of rabbits were used. Group 1 rabbits received single intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (0.625mg/0.025 ml) starting from the age of 6 weeks (n=6). Group 2 rabbits received single injection of balanced salt solution (BSS, 0.025 ml) and serve as control for group1 (n=3). Group 3 rabbits received 2 consecutive injections of bevacizumab (0.625mg/0.025 ml) starting from the age of 6 weeks at the age of 6 weeks and 10 weeks (n=6). Group 4 rabbits received 2 consecutive injections of BSS at the age of 6 weeks and 10 weeks and served as control for group 3 (n=3) . Before intravitreal injection and every 2 weeks after injection, complete blood count and clinical biochemistry were checked and compared. During the experiment, weight gain, food intake, body temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and mortality in the animals were measured and documented regularly. Two months after intravitreal injection of bevacizumab, animals were sacrificed and histology in the major organs was checked. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was checked to explore the glial cells difference in the central nervous system.
Results: :
There were no morphological or functional changes in the eyes following intravitreal injection of bevacizumab. After bevacizumab injection, there were no difference in weight gain, food intake, body temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and mortality among 4 groups of animals. We also did not note difference in complete blood count and biochemistry before and after the intravitreal injections among 4 groups. Histology of the major organs and IHC did not reveal significance difference among 4 groups of animal.
Conclusions: :
Intravitreal injection of bevacizumab in the newborn rabbits’ eyes is well tolerated. In addition, it does not cause significant systemic toxicity.
Keywords: retinopathy of prematurity • vitreoretinal surgery • ocular irritancy/toxicity testing