Abstract
Purpose: :
To determine the neuro-developmental outcomes at three years follow up among a group of infants that where treated with intravitreal bevacizumab for ROP at a few weeks after birth.
Methods: :
We performed a prospective, longitudinal follow-up study of premature infants who were treated with intravitreal bevacizumab for ROP with thereshold, pre-thereshold and plus disease and IVa a few weeks after birth. Neurological examination, neuro-developmental assessment, and anthropometric measurements were performed by general pediatricians.
Results: :
A total of 13 children were evaluated. Abnormal neuro-developmental outcomes, defined as either disability (cerebral palsy, bilateral blindness, or bilateral hearing loss) or delay (no disability, but one score of less than 70 on the Denver Scales of Infant Development). We found only one patient (1.3%) with developmental delay at 60th percentile level. The patient had hyaline membrane disease at birth and developed chronic lung disease. We believe these findings may be a consequence of prematurity rather than the use of bevacizumab.
Conclusions: :
The use of intravitreal bevacizumab may be promising in the treatment of patients with ROP. On a three-year follow up treatment, intravitreal bevacizumab not appear to cause any systemic adverse events. Regardless, further studies need to be performed in order to determine the safety and long term efficacy
Clinical Trial: :
www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT00346814
Keywords: retinopathy of prematurity • quality of life • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: treatment/prevention assessment/controlled clinical trials