Purpose To compare the effectiveness of intravitreal conbercept and ranibizumab treatment for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Methods In this retrospective study, the date of patients with ROP treated with intravitreal conbercept or ranibizumab from July 2012 to March 2018 with at least 12 months of follow‐up at the Eye Center in People’s Hospital of Peking University were analysed. Regression, progression or recurrence and peripheral retina vascularization were evaluated. Results In total, 283 eyes (145 infants) with conbercept treatment and 916 eyes (480 infants) with ranibizumab treatment were enrolled. In zone I ROP and aggressive posterior ROP (APROP), the recurrence prevalence was 49.09% (108/220 eyes) and 28.57% (10/33 eyes), and the recurrence interval was 7.87 ± 0.65 (5.5–9.5) weeks and 10.6 ± 1.53 (10.5–13) weeks in the ranibizumab and conbercept groups, respectively. In zone II ROP disease, the recurrence prevalence was 23.56% (164/696 eyes) and 13.31% (33/248 eyes), and the interval of recurrence was 8.40 ± 0.88 (6–10.5) weeks and 11.4 ± 1.35 (11–13.5) weeks in the ranibizumab and conbercept groups, respectively. The recurrence prevalence was significantly higher with ranibizumab in Zone I ROP and APROP (p = 0.006) and Zone II ROP (p < 0.001), and the recurrence interval was significantly longer in the conbercept group than that in the ranibizumab (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the rate of retinal vascularization (p = 0.441). Conclusion Conbercept and ranibizumab are effective for treating ROP. Compared with ranibizumab, conbercept resulted in less recurrence and longer treatment intervals.

Intravitreal Conbercept (IVC) is the latest applied and effective treatment for the management of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). However, conbercept escapes from the vitreous into the general circulation and reduce systemic VEGF concentrations. Thus, there are concerns about systemic complications, in these premature infants who are developing vital organ systems. This study is to determine whether a low dosage (0.15 mg/0.015 mL) of IVC is effective in the treatment of Zone II Stage 2/3 + ROP. A total of 38 eyes of 20 infants were analyzed retrospectively. We identified treatment effectiveness as complete regression of retinopathy and retinal vascularisation to zone III. The mean gestational age (GA), postmenstrual age (PMA) at treatment and birth weights (BW) were 28.6 ± 2.2 weeks, 39.3 ± 3.0 weeks and 1297.5 ± 429.2 g respectively. Primary effectiveness (react to IVC 0.15 mg alone) was found in 32/38 eyes (84.2%). Secondary effectiveness (a second IVC was required) was found in 6/38 eyes (15.8%). Follow-up continued until 90 weeks’ postmenstrual age and showed no recurrences of plus disease or neovascularization. The study suggests 0.15 mg IVC is effective for Zone II Stage 2/3 + ROP, and there is no adverse ocular outcomes during the follow-up period.

intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VeGf) agents have revolutionized the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP); however, there are concerns regarding the potential systemic complications caused by those treatments. this study aimed to determine the serum concentrations of cytokines in infants with Rop and to evaluate the changes in serum VeGf concentrations after intravitreal conbercept (IVC). Sixty infants with ROP treated with IVC 0.25 mg were included. Blood samples were collected before treatment as well as 1 week and 4 weeks after treatment. Serum levels of 45 types of cytokines were measured by a multiplex bead assay. We observed that IVC 0.25 mg in ROP patients suppressed the circulating levels of VEGF-A and VEGF-D as of 1 week after injection, and these growth factor levels returned to baseline at 4 weeks. No significant differences were observed in the serum levels of the other cytokines between baseline and 1 or 4 weeks after IVC.

Purpose To investigate the quantitative vascular or structural differences in the foveal section of the eyes in ROP children and healthy children using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).Methods This cross-sectional observational comparative study consisted of 75 eyes (44 subjects). Subjects were divided into 4 groups based on the diagnosis or treatment: diagnosed with ROP and treated by intravitreal injection of Conbercept, or Ranibizumab, lesions spontaneously regressed, and healthy age-matched term-born children. Central foveal thickness (CFT), foveal avascular zone (FAZ), superficial/deep capillary plexus (SCP/DCP), and choroidal vessel density (VD) at the foveal section were collected by spectral-domain OCT and OCTA. Correlations between foveal microvasculature, preterm status and visual acuity were also evaluated.Results There were significant differences between the four groups in the FAZ area, CFT, VD-SCP (whole-image), and VD-SCP (parafoveal). The FAZ area of ROP children was significantly smaller than that in age-matched term-born healthy children (p=0.009). The CFT of group Conbercept was considerably lower than that of the group Ranibizumab (p=0.044). The FAZ area showed a positive correlation with choroid VD (p=0.012) and a negative correlation with CFT, VD-SCP (foveal), and VD-DCP (foveal)(p<0.001, p<0.001, p=0.001), whilst the CFT was positively correlated with VD-SCP (foveal) and VD-DCP (foveal)(p=0.003, p=0.001).Conclusion ROP children possess a smaller FAZ area, of which no significant difference is noted when comparing different anti-VEGF agents employed. Anti-VEGF treatment could reduce the CFT, and Conbercept had a better performance than Ranibizumab. Correlation between the microvascular anomalies and central foveal thickness also exists.