Therapeutic outcomes of ranibizumab for zone ii stage 2 retinopathy of prematurity with plus disease.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of intravitreal injections of ranibizumab (IVR) in treating zone II stage 2 retinopathy of prematurity with plus disease (ROP II2+) in preterm infants, focusing on two primary outcomes: reactivation and persistent avascular retina (PAR).

Study design: Retrospective and consecutive case series.

Methods: This retrospective study reviewed the medical records of preterm infants treated with IVR at Tokai University hospital between December 2019 and September 2023. Data on reactivation, PAR, and other clinical outcomes were analyzed using generalized estimating equations to account for correlations between eyes.

Results: Thirty eyes from 16 infants received IVR treatment. Following initial IVR all eyes achieved remission for over one year with IVR alone. Forty percent of these eyes required subsequent treatment due to reactivation, with a median reactivation time of 70 days. One year after initial IVR, PAR was observed in 11 out of the 30 eyes. Lower birth weight was associated with a tendency toward reactivation, and it also showed a significant correlation with the development of PAR.

Conclusions: This research supports the effectiveness of IVR for ROP II2+ over a one-year period. The links between lower birth weight and both reactivation and PAR might guide refinements in therapeutic strategies.