# Efficacy and factors associated with reactivation following intravitreal ranibizumab or conbercept for retinopathy of prematurity

## TL;DR

This study compares ranibizumab and conbercept for treating retinopathy of prematurity and finds similar efficacy, with younger age and Zone I disease linked to higher reactivation risk.

## Contribution

Identifies postmenstrual age and Zone I ROP as novel risk factors for disease reactivation after anti-VEGF treatment.

## Key findings

- Ranibizumab and conbercept show similar reactivation rates and time to reactivation in ROP treatment.
- Lower postmenstrual age at initial treatment increases reactivation risk.
- Zone I ROP is a significant predictor of reactivation.

## Abstract

To compare the efficacy of intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) and conbercept (IVC) treatment for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and to evaluate the risk factors associated with disease reactivation.

In this retrospective study, the medical records of infants with ROP treated with IVR or IVC from April 2017 to June 2024 at Guangdong Women and Children Hospital were reviewed. The primary outcome measures were reactivation rate, time to reactivation, and factors associated with reactivation.

A total of 294 infants (565 eyes) were included. The reactivation rate was 10.39% (43 of 414 eyes) in the IVR group and 12.58% (19 of 151 eyes) in the IVC group, with no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.46). The mean time to reactivation was similar between the IVR group (8.92 ± 2.01 weeks) and the IVC group (8.78 ± 1.68 weeks) (p = 0.84). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified that a lower postmenstrual age (PMA) at initial treatment (p = 0.001) and Zone I ROP (p = 0.008) were significant independent risk factor of reactivation. Gestational age, birth weight, sex, and other systemic comorbidities were not significantly associated with reactivation.

Ranibizumab and conbercept are effective for treating ROP. A lower PMA at initial treatment and Zone I ROP were identified as significant risk factors for reactivation. Infants with these characteristics require closer and more prolonged follow-up after anti-VEGF therapy.