Intravitreal bevacizumab for retinopathy of prematurity: refractive error results.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To evaluate refractive error in infants who underwent intravitreal bevacizumab injection for treatment of threshold retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

DESIGN:

Retrospective nonrandomized interventional comparative study.

METHODS:

The study group included all infants who consecutively received a single intravitreal bevacizumab (0.375 mg or 0.625 mg) injection for therapy of threshold ROP in fundus zone I or zone II. The control group included infants who had previously undergone retinal argon laser therapy of ROP. The follow-up examination included refractometry under cycloplegic conditions.

RESULTS:

The study group included 12 children (23 eyes; mean birth weight: 622 ± 153 g; gestational age: 25.2 ± 1.6 weeks) and the control group included 13 children (26 eyes; birth weight: 717 ± 197 g; gestational age: 25.3 ± 1.8 weeks). Both groups did not differ significantly in birth age and weight and follow-up. At the end of follow-up at 11.4 ± 2.3 months after birth, refractive error was less myopic in the study group than in the control group (-1.04 ± 4.24 diopters [median: 0 diopters] vs -4.41 ± 5.50 diopters [median: -5.50 diopters]; P = .02). Prevalence of moderate myopia (17% ± 8% vs 54% ± 10%; P = .02; OR: 0.18 [95% CI: 0.05, 0.68]) and high myopia (9% ± 6% vs 42% ± 10%; P = .01; OR: 0.13 [95% CI: 0.03, 0.67]) was significantly lower in the bevacizumab group. Refractive astigmatism was significantly lower in the study group (-1.0 ± 1.04 diopters vs 1.82 ± 1.41 diopters; P = .03). In multivariate analysis, myopic refractive error and astigmatism were significantly associated with laser therapy vs bevacizumab therapy (P = .04 and P = .02, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS:

In a 1-year follow-up, a single intravitreal bevacizumab injection as compared to conventional retinal laser coagulation was helpful for therapy of ROP and led to less myopization and less astigmatism.

• Authors: Björn C Harder, Frank C Schlichtenbrede, Stefan von Baltz, Waldemar Jendritza, Bettina Jendritza, Jost B Jonas
• Journal: American journal of ophthalmology (Am J Ophthalmol) Vol. 155 Issue 6 Pg. 1119-1124.e1 (Jun 2013) ISSN: 1879-1891 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23490192 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Angiogenesis Inhibitors
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
• VEGFA protein, human
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
• Bevacizumab

Topics

• Angiogenesis Inhibitors (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Astigmatism (physiopathology)
• Bevacizumab
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Gestational Age
• Humans
• Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight
• Infant, Newborn
• Intravitreal Injections
• Laser Coagulation
• Lasers, Gas (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Myopia (physiopathology)
• Retinal Neovascularization (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Retinopathy of Prematurity (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Retrospective Studies
• Treatment Outcome
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Visual Acuity (physiology)