Author: Mehmet Fatih Küçük (Turkey)
Co-authors: Muhammet Kazım Erol, Elçin Süren
Purpose
Comparison of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) monotherapy with anti-VEGF plus diode laser therapy in eyes with aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity (AP-ROP).
Setting/Venue
Retrospective cross-sectional study / Health Sciences University, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Ophthalmology Clinic.
Methods
Four hundred forty-five patients who were followed up and treated for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in our clinic between 2014 and 2020 were retrospectively investigated. Seventy-four eyes of 37 patients diagnosed with AP ROP and treated were included in the study. 49 eyes treated with anti-VEGF agent injections monotherapy in AP ROP treatment were included in the first group. In the second group, 18 eyes that received injection therapy and diode laser treatment were included. The clinical findings of the two groups were investigated and the treatment results of the two groups were compared.
Results
ROP findings didn't recur in the second group (26,86%). In the first group, 30 eyes (44,77%) recovered with a single injection. Recurrence was observed in 19 eyes in the first group. Recurrence in 6 eyes (8,95%) in the first group improved with the second injection. In the first group, when the ROP finding has recurred in 11 eyes, fibrotic activity was observed and laser therapy was added to the second injection treatment. In addition, 8 eyes (11,94%) with recurrence in the first group improved when the laser was applied with the second injection. In the first group, a second recurrence occurred in 5 eyes despite the injection and laser treatment. While 2 of these 5 eyes were treated with reinjection and laser therapy, pars plana vitrectomy was performed in 3 eyes (4.47%) due to complications related to AP ROP. In the first group, there was a sequela in 3 eyes (4,47%) because the patients couldn't be followed up due to other health problems. Despite this, the macula of these eyes wasn't detached and their visual axes were open in their last examination. In the comparison of treatment results of both groups, no difference was found between the two groups (P=0,181)
Conlusions
It was observed that most of the eyes with AP ROP improved with the anti-VEGF agent injection monotherapy. However, the appearance of fibrotic activity in eyes with AP ROP may indicate the necessity of diode laser therapy.
Financial Disclosure
Financial disclosure: The authors have no financial or ownership rights over a product, method, or material mentioned herein. Declarations of interest: The authors declared no conflict of interest. They are solely responsible for the content and writing of the article. Funding: The authors declared that they did not receive any financial support from any foundations, public or private sources for this study
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