2M.D. Ankara Zübeyde Hanım Training and Research Hospital, Eye Clinic, Ankara/TURKEY
3M.D. Associate Professor, Ankara Zübeyde Hanım Training and Research Hospital, Neonatology Clinic, Ankara/TURKEY Purpose: To establish risk factors for agressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity (APROP) by investigating clinical and demographical characteristics of premature infants who were treated with laser photocoagulation for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).
Materials and Methods: Medical records of premature infants who were treated with transpupillary diode laser photocoagulation were reviewed for gestational age, birthweight, APGAR 1 and 5 scores, mode of delivery, sex, multiple pregnancy, preeclampsia, maternal diabetes, early membrane rupture, ablatio placenta, blood transfusion, clinical sepsis, respiratory distress syndrome, necrotizing enterocolitis, intracranial hemorrhage, hydrocephalus and in-vitro fertilisation. The infants who were treated for threshold or high-risk prethreshold ROP were categorized in group 1 and those with APROP were in group 2.
Results: Of the 127 infants with a mean gestational age of 27.4±2.2 (23-34) weeks and a birthweight of 991.7±277.4 (570-2250) grams, 101 (79.5%) were classified in group 1 and 26 (20.5%) in group 2. Gestational age, birthweight, APGAR 1 and 5 scores were lower; and the need for blood transfusion, respiratory distress syndrome and clinical sepsis frequencies were higher for the infants with APROP. These differences were statistically significant.
Conclusion: Small gestational age and low birthweight are most significant risk factors for APROP. It is difficult to decide whether other statistically significant risk factors including APGAR 1 and 5 scores, need for blood transfusion, respiratory distress syndrome and clinical sepsis are independent risk factors or accompanying diseases related to prematurity.
Keywords : Agressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity, birthweight, gestational age