Background: Data on serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and drug levels in patients with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) following intravitreal injections of conbercept (IVC) are lacking.
Methods: Multicentre, prospective, non-randomised study of patients with aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity (APROP) or type 1 ROP who had not received other treatment. All infants received therapy in both eyes plus intravitreal IVC 0.25 mg/0.025 mL in one eye and had at least 6 months of follow-up. Blood samples were collected before and 1 week and 4 weeks after IVC. The main outcome measures were serum conbercept and VEGF concentrations.
Results: Forty infants with APROP or type 1 ROP were enrolled. The mean serum VEGF at baseline and 1 week and 4 weeks after a total of 0.25 mg of IVC was 953.35±311.90 pg/mL, 303.46±181.89 pg/mL and 883.12±303.89 pg/mL, respectively. Serum VEGF 1 week after IVC was significantly lower (p<0.05) than baseline, and at 4 weeks after IVC, it was significantly higher (p<0.05) than at 1 week. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) between baseline and 4 weeks. Serum conbercept was below the limit of quantitation (BLOQ) at baseline and 4 weeks and was 19.81±7.60 ng/mL at 1 week.
Conclusion: Serum VEGF 1 week after IVC was significantly lower than baseline but returned to baseline at 4 weeks. Serum conbercept increased at 1 week and was BLOQ at 4 weeks.
Keywords: drugs; retina; treatment medical.
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