An Observational Study of Different Treatment Practices for Aggressive Posterior Retinopathy of Prematurity.

PURPOSE: To evaluate risk factors and outcomes of preferred practice for infants with aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity (APROP) at a tertiary eye center in India.

METHODS

This was an observational study of infants with APROP where patients were divided into three groups after 2 weeks of initial treatment depending on the treatment received: anti-VEGF only, laser only, and combination of anti-VEGF injection followed by laser within 2 weeks of anti-VEGF injection (combined group). All infants were evaluated for risk factors and followed up at 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks to determine treatment outcomes in terms of regression, vascular re-growth, progression, and recurrence of the disease.

RESULTS

Sixty eyes of 31 infants were included in the study, with 26 eyes in the anti-VEGF only group, 19 eyes in the laser-only group, and 15 eyes in the combined group. Infants in the combined group presented late with lower birth weight (BW), smaller gestational age (GA), and a history of longer duration of ventilatory support. After 3 months of follow-up, regression occurred in 73.08% in the anti-VEGF only group, 89.5% in the laser-only group, and 86.66% in the combined group (P = .07). Zone of vascularization was greater in the anti-VEGF only group and the combined group compared to the laser-only group. Disease recurrence was seen in 27% in the anti-VEGF group, none in the laser-only group, and 13.33% in the combined group (P < .001). However, progression to stage 4 ROP requiring surgery was noted in 2 eyes in the laser-only group.

CONCLUSIONS

Infants with APROP who have a lower GA or BW or require longer ventilatory support are possibly a subset best suited for planned combination therapy. A combination of anti-VEGF therapy followed by laser treatment within 2 weeks allows for early regression, a stable course, lower recurrence, and a larger area of retinal vascularization. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2021;58(6):370-376.].