Abstract
Purpose :
To find out the risk factors for reactivation of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) after intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injection (IVI) and identify risk factors for early reactivation after anti-VEGF treatment.
Methods :
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 104 eyes of 53 infants who received IVI (Bevacizumab or Ranibizumab) for the treatment of type 1 ROP from 2018 August to 2023 April. The eyes were divided into 2 groups, depending on whether reactivation of ROP after IVI was developed (reactivated group, 62 eyes) or not (control group, 42 eyes). Afterward, we divided the reactivated group into 2 groups of early (30 eyes) and late (32 eyes), whether the period between IVI and reactivation was less than 12 weeks or not. To verify the risk factors of reactivation of ROP and risk factors for early reactivation, independent t-test, chi-square, and logistic regression analyses were performed for ocular variables (stage, zone, plus grade of ROP and postmenstrual age (PMA) at the time of IVI, etc.) and systemic variables (sex, gestational age (GA), birth weight (BW), APGAR score, presence of pulmonary hypertension, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, patent ductus arteriosus, intraventricular hemorrhage, sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis, duration of total parenteral nutrition and oxygen treatment).
Results :
Reactivation of ROP after anti-VEGF treatment is relatively common (59.6%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed zone I ROP (p= 0.003) and earlier PMA (p<0.001) at IVI, male (p= 0.005), and lower GA (p<0.001) were significantly associated with reactivation of ROP after IVI. The rate of early reactivation after IVI was significant higher in Ranibizumab group than Bevacizumab group (p= 0.001).
Conclusions :
Reactivation after anti-VEGF treatment may be associated with zone I and earlier PMA at IVI, male and lower GA. Furthermore, Ranibizumab may be a significant risk factor for early reactivation after IVI.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.