SEVERE RECURRENT FIBROVASCULAR PROLIFERATION AFTER COMBINED INTRAVITREAL BEVACIZUMAB INJECTION AND LASER PHOTOCOAGULATION FOR AGGRESSIVE POSTERIOR RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY.

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical features of severe recurrent fibrovascular proliferation after intravitreal bevacizumab injections and laser photocoagulation for aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity.

METHODS

This retrospective, nonrandomized case series reviewed the medical and ophthalmic records in the referral hospital and our hospital.

PATIENTS: Four patients (seven eyes) with aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity.

RESULTS

The patients were referred for vitrectomy with/without lensectomy for recurrent fibrovascular proliferation with a tractional retinal detachment after combined intravitreal bevacizumab injections and laser photocoagulation. Three patients were born at 22 weeks or 23 weeks' gestational age and one patient at 29 weeks' gestational age. Preoperatively, fluorescein angiography images showed all eyes had tractional retinal detachment from regrowth of fibrovascular proliferation 3 months to 5 months after the intravitreal bevacizumab injection and abnormal retinal vasculature; four eyes had a broad ischemic retina. Postoperatively, four eyes had retinal attachment and three eyes a total retinal detachment. Neovascular glaucoma developed in five of the seven eyes during the clinical course.

CONCLUSION

Severe fibrovascular proliferation may recur due to widespread retinal ischemia with capillary dropout and abnormal vasculature after failed combined intravitreal bevacizumab and laser photocoagulation therapy as the initial treatment for aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity. Careful follow-up is important especially after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment, with recognition that severe reactivation is possible.