Changes in serum concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factors-A and B after intravitreal injection of ranibizumab and conbercept for retinopathy of prematurity

Introduction To compare the changes in serum concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A and B after intravitreal injection of ranibizumab (IVR) or conbercept (IVC) for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Methods In this prospective study, infants with type 1 ROP in both eyes were recruited in our hospital from September 2021 to February 2022, randomly assigned to the ranibizumab and conbercept groups and administered IVR or IVC (0.25 mg/0.025 mL). Blood samples were collected before the operation and 1 and 4 weeks after the operation to measure the concentrations of serum VEGF-A and B. Results A total of 20 ROP infants were randomly assigned to the ranibizumab (n=10) and conbercept groups (n=10). In the ranibizumab group, the serum VEGF-A concentrations before operation and 1 and 4 weeks after the operation were 73.55±40.78, 11.47±7.00, and 75.36±30.87 pg/mL, respectively (P0.05). In the conbercept group, the serum VEGF-A concentrations before operation and 1 and 4 weeks after the operation were 86.69±55.06,14.68±10.11, and 43.55±57.92 pg/mL, respectively (P0.05). Regarding serum VEGF-B concentrations before the operation and 1 and 4 weeks after the operation, no significant differences were detected in the ranibizumab group (P>0.05), but significant differences were observed in the conbercept group (7.26±2.34, 3.09±2.41, and 4.55±3.37 ng/mL, respectively; P0.05). Conclusions Serum VEGF-A levels in infants with ROP were suppressed after IVR or IVC but returned to preoperative levels at 4 weeks after IVR and remained lower than the preoperative levels at 4 weeks after IVC. Serum VEGF-B was not affected by IVR but was suppressed by IVC for 4 weeks.