Intravitreal ranibizumab as salvage therapy in an extremely low–birth-weight infant with rush type retinopathy of prematurity

ABSTRACT

We report the effects of intravitreal ranibizumab as salvage therapy in an extremely low-birth-weight [ELBW] infant with rush type retinopathy of prematurity [ROP]. This case was a girl of 23 weeks gestational age weighing 480 g at birth. At a postconceptual age of 33 weeks, she presented with zone 1, stage 3 ROP with plus disease. Despite intravitreal bevazucimab and laser photocoagulation, extraretinal fibrovascular proliferation persisted. Intravitreal 0.25 mg [0.025 ml] ranibizumab was injected OU. After treatment, extraretinal fibrovascular proliferation disappeared. Fundus examination showed flat retinas and normal vasculature in both eyes. She has been followed up for 2 years. Intravitreal ranibizumab injection seems effective and well tolerated as salvage therapy in an ELBW infant with rush type ROP. No short-term ocular or systemic side effects were identified. More cases and longer follow-up are mandatory