Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of laser photocoagulation and intravitreal injection of bevacizumab for stage 3 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Methods The study included 38 eyes of 19 infants with stage 3 ROP (18 eyes of 9 infants in zone Ⅰ, 20 eyes of 10 infants in zone Ⅱ). All the patients were examined by indirect ophthalmoscope and photographed by wide-angle digital retinal imaging system (RetCam Ⅱ). The fundus lesions in both eyes were the same. Patients received laser photocoagulation in one eye (laser group) and intravitreal injection of 0.03 ml bevacizumab (25 mg /ml) in the fellow eyes (bevacizumab group) during treatment. Follow-up ranged from 12 to 66 weeks, with an average of 33 weeks. The regression time of neovascular ridges and plus-diseases in two groups were compared. ResultsFor 18 eyes with stage 3 ROP in zone Ⅰ, the regression time of neovascular ridges and plusdiseases were (2.25±0.46) and (2.11±0.60) weeks respectively in bevacizumab group, and both were (3.75±1.75) weeks in laser group. The differences between those two groups were statistically significant (F=18.29，15.56；P＜0.05). For 20 eyes with stage 3 ROP in zone Ⅱ, the regression time of neovascular ridges and plusdiseases were (3.1±1.72) and (2.1±0.56) weeks respectively in bevacizumab group, and were (3.50±1.90) and (2.50±1.35) weeks respectively in laser group. The differences between those two groups were not statistically significant(F=0.38，2.62；P＞0.05). There were more fibrous membrane proliferations on the retinal surface in 8 eyes, including 6 eyes in laser group and 2 eyes in bevacizumab group. There was no treatment-related endophthalmitis, cataract, retinal tears and other complications during the follow-up. ConclusionThe laser photocoagulation and intravitreal injection of bevacizumab were both safe and effective in treating stage 3 ROP.

Citation： Hong YIN. A comparison of laser photocoagulation and intravitreal bevacizumab for stage 3 retinopathy of prematurity. Chinese Journal of Ocular Fundus Diseases, 2012, 28(1): 15-17. doi: Copy

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