Bevacizumab for Retinopathy of Prematurity: 2-Year Neurodevelopmental Follow-up
Michael Zayek, Kaitlyn Parker, Monika Rydzewska, Aref Rifai, Ramachandra Bhat, Fabien Eyal
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine whether infants who were treated with intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) were at higher risk of death or neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) when compared with infants who were not treated with IVB (Laser only). STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective study included 146 infants born from 2009 through 2016 with a birth weight (BW) <1,000 g, gestational age <27 weeks, and required ROP therapy. Death and NDI rates were assessed at 18 to 24 months' corrected age. RESULTS: = 0.003. The adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval of death or severe NDI was 0.86 (0.33-2.20). CONCLUSION: Bevacizumab therapy for ROP did not affect survival and neurodevelopment of extremely preterm infants. KEY POINTS: · Intravitreal bevacizumab therapy for retinopathy of prematurity may be safe in periviable preterm infants.. · Intravitreal bevacizumab therapy does not increase mortality rate in periviable preterm infants.. · Intravitreal bevacizumab therapy does not increase adverse neurodevelopmental outcome in periviable infants..