Results of intravitreal ranibizumab treatment for retinopathy of prematurity in infants

Purpose: To assess the results of intravitreal ranibizumab treatment for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in infants. Methods: A single-institution, retrospective consecutive case series. Results: Thirty-one patients who received ranibizumab treatment for ROP were evaluated in this study. The mean follow-up time was 14 +/- 1.37 months. Vascularization of the peripheral retina had completed with delay in the majority of cases and also avascular areas were present in the peripheral retinas of five infants at one year of age. Although recurrence of ROP developed in 14 infants after single-dose ranibizumab treatment, only four infants received additional treatment due to recurrence of ROP requiring treatment. No serious ocular complications were reported, but, two infants died in this series. Conclusion: Even so ranibizumab treatment is an effective therapy for ROP in early period, close monitoring after injection is necessary due to the high incidence of recurrence. In addition, questions remain regarding the systemic safety of ranibizumab. Further studies are needed to study the systemic and ocular side effects of ranibizumab.