Efficacy of Intravitreal Bevacizumab for Stage 3+ Retinopathy of Prematurity

Abstract

Abstract The BEAT-ROP trial investigated whether bevacizumab, a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor, was an effective alternative to laser therapy for treatment of progressive disease. One hundred and fifty infants with stage 3+ zone I/zone II posterior disease were randomized to intravitreal bevacizumab or laser therapy. Disease recurrence was measured prior to 55 weeks’ postmenstrual age (PMA). Retinopathy recurred in fewer infants in the bevacizumab group versus the laser-therapy group (6% versus 26%; odds ratio 0.17, 95% confidence interval 0.05 to 0.53, p = 0.002). A significant treatment effect was in zone I disease (p = 0.03) but not in zone II disease (p = 0.27). The trial did not include neurodevelopmental follow-up, a key concern for VEGF inhibitors.