Intravitreal pegaptanib as adjunctive treatment for stage 3+ ROP shown to be effective in a prospective, randomized, controlled multicenter clinical trial

PURPOSE. Both intravitreal pegaptanib with laser therapy and intravitreal bevacizumab monotherapy have been found to be more efficacious than laser therapy alone in prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trials. RESULTS. The use of pegaptanib with laser therapy was efficacious in 91.2% compared with 69.0% in controls. The use of bevacizumab monotherapy was efficacious in 95.7% compared with 78.1% in controls. CONCLUSIONS. The use of anti vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for retinopathy of prematurity has been shown to be efficacious, without toxicity reported to date; however, the best drug and dose which allows greatest efficacy with fewest recurrences and without toxicity must be determined.