Serum vascular endothelial growth factor, insulin-like growth factor-1 and aflibercept levels in retinopathy of prematurity

• Published in: Japanese journal of ophthalmology 2022-03, Vol.66 (2), p.151-158
• Main Authors: Furuncuoglu, Utku, Vural, Aslı, Kural, Alev, Onur, Ismail Umut, Yigit, Fadime Ulviye
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Angiogenesis Inhibitors; Clinical Investigation; Growth factors; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infants; Injection; Insulin; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; Insulin-like growth factors; Intravitreal Injections; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Ophthalmology; Prospective Studies; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - therapeutic use; Retinopathy; Retinopathy of Prematurity - diagnosis; Retinopathy of Prematurity - drug therapy; Serum levels; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 0021-5155; 1613-2246
• DOI: 10.1007/s10384-021-00895-9

Purpose To evaluate the serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) after intravitreal injection of aflibercept (IVA) and the transition of aflibercept into systemic circulation in infants with severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Study design Prospective study. Methods This single-centered prospective cohort study included infants who received IVA for the treatment of type 1 ROP in zone I and posterior zone II. Blood samples were collected before IVA and at 1 day and 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after IVA. VEGF, IGF-1 and aflibercept levels were measured. Results Thirty eyes of 15 infants received IVA of 1 mg/0.025 mL. Serum VEGF levels decreased significantly at 1 day and 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after IVA compared with baseline ( P