Postmortem vitreous bevacizumab levels of an infant treated for retinopathy of prematurity

Abstract

We report the vitreous concentration of bevacizumab after injection for the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). A premature neonate diagnosed with type 1 ROP was treated in both eyes with 0.625 mg intravitreal bevacizumab injection at 32 weeks' postconceptual age. Eleven weeks later there was complete regression clinically, but the patient died. Vitreous samples taken at autopsy revealed a bevacizumab vitreous concentration of 41.57 ng/ml. Histopathology of the retina showed residual preretinal neovascularization. Bevacizumab elimination from the infant vitreous is similar to that of adults, and, although complete regression was clinically apparent, it was not confirmed histopathologically.