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¹S.B. Ankara Ulucanlar Göz Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi 3. Göz Kliniği, Ankara, Uz. Dr.
²S.B. Ankara Ulucanlar Göz Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi 3. Göz Kliniği, Ankara, Asist. Dr.
³S.B. Ankara Ulucanlar Göz Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi 3. Göz Kliniği, Ankara, Doç. Dr. Purpose: To evaluate the incidence, risk factors and effectiveness of treatment for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Materials and Methods: The charts of 199 premature infants who were examined between August 2009-December 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. Risk factors were analysed in infants who developed ROP. Infants with high-risk pretreshold ROP and infants with aggressive posterior ROP underwent laser treatment.
Results: Mean gestational age and mean birth weight were 29.5±2.1 weeks and 1241±290 g respectively. Among the 199 infants examined, ROP was detected in 113 (56.8%). Of the 113 infants, 39 eyes of 20 infants with high-risk pretreshold ROP received laser photocaogulation treatment and 6 eyes of 3 infants with aggressive posterior ROP were treated with laser photcoagulation treatment followed by intravitreal ranibizumab (0.3 mg/ 0.03 ml) in the same treatment session. Among the eyes with high-risk pretreshold ROP, 10 (25%) devoloped an increase in vascular activity and an increase in preretinal hemorrhage located at the ridge site following the treatment. However, only one (16%) eye in the aggressive posterior ROP group showed an increase in vascular activity. Gestational age, birth weight, phototherapy, mechanical ventilation, respiratory distress syndrome, continuous positive airway pressure and apnea were found to be associated with the development of ROP.
Conclusion: To prevent the progression of ROP, timely screening and proper treatment are mandatory for preterm infants at high risk. Intravitreal injection of ranibizumab seems to be effective in subsiding the vascular activity in aggressive posterior ROP cases. Keywords : Retinopathy of prematurity, risk factors, intravitreal ranibizumab injection