Intravitreal bevacizumab for the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity: a case report

• Published in: Scottish medical journal Vol. 58; no. 3; p. 130
• Main Authors: Flavahan, P W, Lavy, T E, Wykes, W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Scotland 01.08.2013
• Subjects: Angiogenesis Inhibitors - administration & dosage; Angiogenesis Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized - administration & dosage; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized - therapeutic use; Bevacizumab; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Intravitreal Injections; Male; Retinopathy of Prematurity - drug therapy; Retinopathy of Prematurity - pathology; Scotland; Severity of Illness Index; Treatment Outcome; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - antagonists & inhibitors; Scotland; anti-VEGF; bevacizumab; Retinopathy of prematurity
• ISSN: 0036-9330
• DOI: 10.1177/0036933013496933

We report the first case in Scotland of a premature infant treated for retinopathy of prematurity with bevacizumab. A case report and a review of the literature are presented. Retinopathy of prematurity is a leading worldwide cause of childhood blindness. Conventional laser treatment results in destruction of the peripheral retina and does not prevent all cases of vision loss, particularly in Zone I disease. We present the case of a baby born at 26(+3) weeks who developed stage 3+ disease located in Zone I of the retina. The patient was treated with bilateral bevacizumab injections and achieved complete resolution of his retinopathy. Bevacizumab therapy for the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity is an effective and inexpensive treatment that can readily and quickly be administered by a competent ophthalmologist without the need for specialist equipment.