Ranibizumab after laser photocoagulation failure in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) treatment

The purpose of this study was to investigate the anatomical and functional outcomes of the two-stage treatment of severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) using laser photocoagulation and intravitreal ranibizumab injection. The medical records of 53 eyes of 28 infants treated by conventional laser photocoagulation with deferred intravitreal 0.25 mg/0.025 mL ranibizumab injection were analysed. All patients had at least 11 months of follow-up. In the analysed group, the mean gestational age at birth was 25 weeks and mean birthweight was 790 g. The mean time of laser photocoagulation was 34 weeks of postmenstrual age (PMA). Ranibizumab injection was performed on average at 37 weeks of PMA. The mean time between interventions was 19 days. Retinal detachment occurred in 12 eyes (22.6%), in three children bilaterally. Visual responses were obtained in 23 of 28 treated children. Our results indicate that ranibizumab injection can be taken into consideration in the selected cases of laser photocoagulation failure. The unsatisfactory results of this study elicited a change in the ROP treatment protocol in our medical centre. The study gives an insight into anatomical and functional outcomes of ROP treatment in the Central and Eastern European population.