Retinopathy of Prematurity at a national reference center in neonatal intensive care

Abstract

Introduction and Purpose: Retinopathy of prematurity is a preterm newborns retinal vascular disorder. Our purpose was to analyze the main risk factors associated with the development of the disease at a national reference center in neonatal intensive care.

Material and Methods: Retrospective study that included all newborns with a gestational age of < 32 weeks or/and a gestational weight of ≤ 1500g, admitted in a neonatal intensive care unit between january2015 and december 2017. We assessed the incidence and analyzed the risk factors associated with the development of the disease.

Results: 144 premature infants were studied, 42% developed retinopathy of prematurity. The disease was symmetric in 95%. Stage 2 was the most frequently found (50%) and zone II and III were mainly involved (98%). Most cases didn’t present pré-plus/plus disease (93%). One patient had aggressive posterior disease. Laser photocoagulation and intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF were necessary in 10%. There was a correlation with the risk factors (p<0.05): low birth weight, low gestational age, intracranial hemorrhage, patent ductus arteriosus, respiratory difficulty, use of surfactant/ ibuprofen/ erythrocytes, thrombocytopenia, blood transfusion, sepsis and maternal infection.

Discussion: The incidence of the retinopathy of prematurity was higher than 1/3 in the newborns studied and several risk factors were associated with the development of the disease.

Conclusion: Screening and early treatment are essential to avoid the late consequences of this disease.