Purpose: The purpose was to report a case of elevated intraocular vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in a 2-year-old boy with stage 4 Coats disease.
Design: Interventional case report.
Methods: A 2-year-old boy with severe Coats disease and complex retinal detachment refractory to surgical intervention underwent two injections of intravitreal pegaptanib sodium in his right eye 8 weeks apart.
Results: After intravitreal injection there was a marked reduction in VEGF (908 to 167 pg/ml) levels and improvement of exudation, hemorrhage, and nearly complete reattachment of his retina within 3 weeks of treatment. The patient remains stable 6 months post-treatment.
Conclusions: Coats disease may have a component of dysregulation of VEGF-mediated angiogenesis as evidenced by elevated levels in this patient.