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Shafique MA, Haseeb A, Uddin MMN, Asghar B, Chaudhry ER, Raqib MA, Ali SMS, Mustafa MS. Effectiveness of Propranolol in Preventing Severe Retinopathy of Prematurity: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Am J Ophthalmol 2024; 259:141-150. [PMID: 37979602 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2023.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To learn more about the effectiveness of oral propranolol as a therapeutic alternative for preterm newborns with pre-existing retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) as well as an early prevention method for ROP, one of the most common but avoidable causes of juvenile blindness. STUDY DESIGN Meta-analysis of relevant literature. METHODS A total of 3464 papers were identified, with 2873 from PubMed, 39 from Scopus, 67 from Medline, and 16 from Embase. After screening, finally, a total of 8 studies were deemed suitable for review. Following the PRISMA guidelines, published literature was systematically assessed up to May 10, 2023. Trials and observational studies were included in which beta blockage was used to prevent severe ROP (defined as stage ≥3 or requiring treatment). A total of 3646 papers were identified, with 2873 from PubMed, 39 from Scopus, 67 from Medline, and 16 from Embase. After screening, a total of 8 studies were deemed suitable for review. RESULTS The use of propranolol is linked to a lower risk of disease development in ROP compared to other therapies or control groups, according to the overall risk ratio of 0.59 (95% CI = 0.42, 0.82; P = .002, I2 = 41%). Additionally, the overall risk ratio for plus disease is 0.42 (95% CI = 0.23, 0.78; P = .006, I2 = 0%), for laser photocoagulation is 0.48 (95% CI = 0.31, 0.74; P = .001; I2 = 2%), and for intravitreal injection of VEGF is 0.43 (95% CI = 0.24, 0.74; P = 0.003, I2 = 0%), suggesting that use of propranolol may reduce the likelihood of developing a disease such as plus disease, requiring laser photocoagulation or necessitating intravitreal injection of vascular endothelial growth factor for ROP, respectively. No statistically significant heterogeneity was found in this study (P > .10, I2 = 50%). It can be concluded from this that the results of the chosen studies were sufficiently comparable and consistent. CONCLUSION This study showed that oral propranolol given as a preventive treatment in premature newborns successfully prevented severe ROP. Propranolol dosage and timing must now be carefully considered in the context of the study population, as these factors may have a major impact on the observed outcomes and treatment success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Ashir Shafique
- From the Jinnah Sindh Medical University (M.A.S., A.H., M.M.N.U., B.A., E.R.C., M.S.M.), Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
| | - Abdul Haseeb
- From the Jinnah Sindh Medical University (M.A.S., A.H., M.M.N.U., B.A., E.R.C., M.S.M.), Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Musab Nafees Uddin
- From the Jinnah Sindh Medical University (M.A.S., A.H., M.M.N.U., B.A., E.R.C., M.S.M.), Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
| | - Bushra Asghar
- From the Jinnah Sindh Medical University (M.A.S., A.H., M.M.N.U., B.A., E.R.C., M.S.M.), Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
| | - Eymaan Riaz Chaudhry
- From the Jinnah Sindh Medical University (M.A.S., A.H., M.M.N.U., B.A., E.R.C., M.S.M.), Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
| | - Moosa Abdur Raqib
- Liaquat College of Medicine & Dentistry (M.A.R.), Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
| | | | - Muhammad Saqlain Mustafa
- From the Jinnah Sindh Medical University (M.A.S., A.H., M.M.N.U., B.A., E.R.C., M.S.M.), Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
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Pascarella F, Scaramuzzo RT, Pini A, Cammalleri M, Bagnoli P, Ciantelli M, Filippi L. Propranolol: a new pharmacologic approach to counter retinopathy of prematurity progression. Front Pediatr 2024; 12:1322783. [PMID: 38292211 PMCID: PMC10824858 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2024.1322783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite the evident progress in neonatal medicine, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) remains a serious threat to the vision of premature infants, due to a still partial understanding of the mechanisms underlying the development of this disease and the lack of drugs capable of arresting its progression. Although ROP is a multifactorial disease, retinal vascularization is strictly dependent on oxygen concentration. The exposition of the retina of a preterm newborn, still incompletely vascularized, to an atmosphere relatively hyperoxic, as the extrauterine environment, induces the downregulation of proangiogenic factors and therefore the interruption of vascularization (first ischemic phase of ROP). However, over the following weeks, the growing metabolic requirement of this ischemic retina produces a progressive hypoxia that specularly promotes the surge of proangiogenic factors, finally leading to proliferative retinopathy (second proliferative phase of ROP). The demonstration that the noradrenergic system is actively involved in the coupling between hypoxia and the induction of vasculogenesis paved the way for a pharmacologic intervention aimed at counteracting the interaction of noradrenaline with specific receptors and consequently the progression of ROP. A similar trend has been observed in infantile hemangiomas, the most common vascular lesion of childhood induced by pre-existing hypoxia, which shares similar characteristics with ROP. The fact that propranolol, an unselective antagonist of β1/2 adrenoceptors, counteracts the growth of infantile hemangiomas, suggested the idea of testing the efficacy of propranolol in infants with ROP. From preclinical studies, ongoing clinical trials demonstrated that topical administration of propranolol likely represents the optimal approach to reconcile its efficacy and maximum safety. Given the strict relationship between vessels and neurons, recovering retinal vascularization with propranolol may add further efficacy to prevent retinal dysfunction. In conclusion, the strategy of contrasting precociously the progression of the disease appears to be more advantageous than the current wait-and-see therapeutic approach, which instead is mainly focused on avoiding retinal detachment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alessandro Pini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Maurizio Cammalleri
- Unit of General Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Paola Bagnoli
- Unit of General Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Luca Filippi
- Neonatology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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Filippi L, Cammalleri M, Amato R, Ciantelli M, Pini A, Bagnoli P, Dal Monte M. Decoupling Oxygen Tension From Retinal Vascularization as a New Perspective for Management of Retinopathy of Prematurity. New Opportunities From β-adrenoceptors. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:835771. [PMID: 35126166 PMCID: PMC8814365 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.835771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is an evolutive and potentially blinding eye disease that affects preterm newborns. Unfortunately, until now no conservative therapy of active ROP with proven efficacy is available. Although ROP is a multifactorial disease, premature exposition to oxygen concentrations higher than those intrauterine, represents the initial pathogenetic trigger. The increase of oxygenation in a retina still incompletely vascularized promotes the downregulation of proangiogenic factors and finally the interruption of vascularization (ischemic phase). However, the increasing metabolic requirement of the ischemic retina induces, over the following weeks, a progressive hypoxia that specularly increases the levels of proangiogenic factors finally leading to proliferative retinopathy (proliferative phase). Considering non-modifiable the coupling between oxygen levels and vascularization, so far, neonatologists and ophthalmologists have “played defense”, meticulously searching the minimum necessary concentration of oxygen for individual newborns, refining their diagnostic ability, adopting a careful monitoring policy, ready to decisively intervene only in a very advanced stage of disease progression. However, recent advances have demonstrated the possibility to pharmacologically modulate the relationship between oxygen and vascularization, opening thus the perspective for new therapeutic or preventive opportunities. The perspective of a shift from a defensive towards an attack strategy is now at hand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Filippi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- *Correspondence: Luca Filippi,
| | | | - Rosario Amato
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Pini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Paola Bagnoli
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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Arima M, Fujii Y, Sonoda KH. Translational Research in Retinopathy of Prematurity: From Bedside to Bench and Back Again. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10020331. [PMID: 33477419 PMCID: PMC7830975 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10020331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a vascular proliferative disease affecting preterm infants, is a leading cause of childhood blindness. Various studies have investigated the pathogenesis of ROP. Clinical experience indicates that oxygen levels are strongly correlated with ROP development, which led to the development of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) as an animal model of ROP. OIR has been used extensively to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying ROP and to evaluate the efficacy of new drug candidates. Large clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents to treat ROP, and anti-VEGF therapy is presently becoming the first-line treatment worldwide. Anti-VEGF therapy has advantages over conventional treatments, including being minimally invasive with a low risk of refractive error. However, long-term safety concerns and the risk of late recurrence limit this treatment. There is an unmet medical need for novel ROP therapies, which need to be addressed by safe and minimally invasive therapies. The recent progress in biotechnology has contributed greatly to translational research. In this review, we outline how basic ROP research has evolved with clinical experience and the subsequent emergence of new drugs. We discuss previous and ongoing trials and present the candidate molecules expected to become novel targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitsuru Arima
- Department of Ophthalmology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 8128582, Japan; (Y.F.); (K.-H.S.)
- Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Kyushu University Hospital, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 8128582, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-92-642-5648
| | - Yuya Fujii
- Department of Ophthalmology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 8128582, Japan; (Y.F.); (K.-H.S.)
| | - Koh-Hei Sonoda
- Department of Ophthalmology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 8128582, Japan; (Y.F.); (K.-H.S.)
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Kong HB, Zheng GY, He BM, Zhang Y, Zhou Q. Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Propranolol in the Prevention and Treatment of Retinopathy of Prematurity: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Front Pediatr 2021; 9:631673. [PMID: 33643978 PMCID: PMC7902715 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2021.631673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: To perform a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials verifying clinical efficacy and safety of propranolol in pre-term newborns with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Methods: We searched the literature databases (Pubmed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang, VIP, CBM) for publications before August 10, 2020, and the World Health Organization's International Clinical Trials Registry and ClinicalTrials.gov for ongoing trials. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of propranolol for the prevention or treatment of ROP were included. The quality of the included studies was primarily assessed by the RCT tool of the Cochrane Collaboration. The included studies were quantified using a meta-analysis of relative risk (RR) estimated with a random effect model. Results: Our original search identified 171 articles, and five studies met our criteria. A meta-analysis was performed that showed that infants orally treated with propranolol had a decreased risk of disease progression: stage progression had an RR = 0.65 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.47-0.88]), plus disease had an RR = 0.43 [95% CI, 0.22-0.82]. The demands for additional treatments had similar protective results: laser photocoagulations had an RR = 0.55 [95% CI, 0.35-0.86]), and intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor had an RR = 0.45 [95% CI, 0.22-0.90]). The oral administration of propranolol was associated with an increased risk of adverse events (RR = 2.01 [95% CI, 1.02-3.97]). High-risk adverse events included bradycardia, hypotension, not gaining enough weight, bronchospasm, hypoglycemia, apnea, and increasing ventilator need. Subgroup analysis of ROP phases and stages found that the risk in stage 2 ROP of the second phase and the individual risk factors (stage progression, RR = 0.42 [95% CI, 0.27-0.65]; plus disease, RR = 0.40 [95% CI, 0.17-0.93]; laser photocoagulation, RR = 0.31 [95% CI, 0.14-0.68]) have statistically significant differences compared with other phases and stages. Conclusions: Pre-term newborns with ROP, especially in stage 2 ROP of the second phase, who were orally given propranolol have a reduced risk of disease progression and demand for additional treatments, but the safety needs more attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haibo B Kong
- Department of Pediatrics, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Guoyuan Y Zheng
- Department of Neuroelectrophysiology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Baomei M He
- Department of Pediatrics, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qin Zhou
- Department of Pediatrics, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
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