Efficacy of intravitreal injection of ranibizumab combined with selective laser photocoagulation in the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity

Aim: To explore the efficacy of intravitreal injection of ranibizumab combined with selective laser photocoagulation for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Methods: 80 children with ROP were randomized into control group treated with laser photocoagulation and observation group treated with selective laser photocoagulation plus intravitreal injection of ranibizumab. Venous blood was collected before and after treatment. Serum levels of VEGF, IGF-l and GLU were also detected by ELISA. Results: The effective rate of the first treatment in the observation group was significantly higher than the control group (82.50% vs. 62.50%, & chi;2=6.957, P=0.008). The postoperative fundus outcome in the observation group was also notably improved in comparison with the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the serum levels of VEGF and GLU in the observation group were markedly decreased than the control group, but serum IGF-l level was significantly increased than the control group (P<0.05). The total incidence of complications in the observation group was 3.75%, which was significantly lower than 15.00% in the control group (& chi;2=5.959, P=0.015). Conclusion: Intravitreal injection of ranibizumab combined with selective laser photocoagulation significantly ameliorated retinopathy of prematurity by improving serum levels of VEGF, IGF-l and GLU and decreasing the incidence of complications.