Abstract
Purpose: :
To study the change in plasma concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) after bevacizumab intravitreal injection in infants with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)
Methods: :
The 11 eyes of 6 infants who received intravitreal injection of bevacizumab were included. At pre-injection, post injection 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 weeks, blood sample were collected. The concentrations of VEGF and IgG1 in the plasma were measured by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
Results: :
The mean VEGF concentrations in plasma were 2.05 (SD:3.01) ng/ml at preinjection and 0.17 (0.10, p=0.028) ng/ml, 0.14(0.14, p=0.028) ng/ml , 0.13 (0.01) ng/ml, 0.1(0.03) ng/ml, 0.08(0.03) ng/ml, 0.07(0.01) ng/ml, 0.05(0.01) ng/ml at postinjection 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 weeks, respectively. The mean IgG1 concentrations in plasma were 8.62(0.61) ug/ml at preinjection and 8.03(0.38) ug/ml, 8.29(0.57)ug/ml, 8.08(0.47) ug/ml, 8.02(0.74) ug/ml, 7.92(0.285) ug/ml, 8.05(0.06) ug/ml, 7.73(0.13) ug/ml at post injection 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 weeks, respectively.
Conclusions: :
The concentration of VEGF in plasma decreased significantly after the intravitreal bevacizumab injection in ROP. However, the level of IgG1 were invariable after the injection.
Keywords: retinopathy of prematurity • vascular endothelial growth factor • drug toxicity/drug effects