• Rudolf Autrata, Inka Krejcírová, Katerina Senková, Marie Holoušová, Zdenek Doležel, and Ivo Borek.
• Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University and Faculty Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic. rautrata@fnbrno.cz
• Eur J Ophthalmol. 2012 Sep 1; 22 (5): 687-94.

PurposeTo investigate efficacy of intravitreal injection of pegaptanib and laser photocoagulation for treatment of stage 3+ retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) affecting zone I and posterior zone II, and to compare the results in terms of regression, development of peripheral retinal vessels, and final structural outcome with conventional laser photocoagulation or combined with cryotherapy.MethodsIn a prospective comparative study, 152 eyes with zone I, II posterior ROP 3+ (76 premature rabies), from 2009 to 2011, were included. Patients were randomly assigned to receive intravitreal pegaptanib (Macugen® 0.3 mg = 0.02 mL, Pfizer) with conventional diode laser photocoagulation in group 1 (68 eyes of 34 infants) or only laser therapy combined with cryotherapy in group 2 (84 eyes of 42 infants), bilaterally. The primary outcome of treatment success was defined as absence of recurrence of stage 3+ ROP. The mean follow-up after treatment was 19.3 months in group 1 and 21.5 months in group 2.ResultsFinal favorable anatomic outcome and stable regression of ROP at last control examination was noted in 89.7% of eyes in group 1 and 60.8 % of eyes in group 2. Regression of plus disease and peripheral retinal vessels development appeared significantly more rapidly in group 1. No recurrence of neovascularization (stage 3+ ROP) was identified in 85.4% of patients in group 1 and 50% of patients in group 2.ConclusionsResults of this study support the administration of intravitreal pegaptanib as useful therapy in the management of stage 3+ ROP.

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