The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there is an association between intravenous bevacizumab (IVB) and hypertension among infants with severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and comparing those treated with IVB to those treated with laser, or infants with spontaneous regression of ROP. This was a retrospective review of a cohort of 158 infants with type 1 or 2 ROP. Twenty-one were excluded due to incomplete vital signs so final analysis included 137 infants. There was no difference for IVB or laser treatment at baseline characteristics, inclusive of hypertension prior to treatment. Of 94 treated infants, there was no difference in type of treatment for those who experienced short-term hypertension, or long-term, outcomes. Overall, short-term hypertension was a common finding among high-risk infants with severe ROP – present in 57% of included patients. None had vasogenic oedema consistent with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). Limitations of this study were its retrospective study, lack of complete nursing flow sheets for some patients and exclusion of patients without complete data. The authors conclude with a note of reassurance that IVB use for ROP has no obvious link to sustained hypertension or PRES.
Risk for systemic hypertension in ROP with IVB or laser therapy
Reviewed by Fiona Rowe
Bevacizumab for retinopathy of prematurity is not associated with systemic hypertension.
CONTRIBUTOR
Fiona Rowe (Prof)
Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, UK.
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