Abstract:

Objective: It was aimed to determine the risk factors for the development of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in premature infants. The factors affecting the need of laser photocoagulation (LP) were also investigated. Methods: The study was prospectively conducted at a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) between March 2011 and August 2012. A total of 113 premature infants born at <37 weeks of gestational age were evaluated. The patients were divided into two groups according to ROP development; Group 1: with ROP and Group 2: without ROP. Results: In Group 1 (n=53), 15 patients (38.3%) had stage >2 ROP. LP was performed on 18 (33.9%) patients. While the mean birth weight and gestational age were lower, the rates of associated disorders, use of prophylactic or therapeutic caffeine for apnea, and need of red blood cell transfusion were higher in Group 1 compared to Group 2 (p<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that the need of transfusion in the first 10 days of life has increased the risk for ROP (OR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1-3.3, p=0.01). In another model, it was determined that the higher gestational age and the absence of apnea or prophylactic caffeine use were associated with reduced need of LP [OR: 0.5, 95% CI: 0.2-0.9), p=0.02, and (OR: 0.1, 95% CI: 0.03-0.9), p=0.02), respectively]. Conclusion: Red blood cell transfusion in early neonatal period may contribute to the development of ROP. The use of prophylactic or therapeutic caffeine for apnea could negatively affect the progression of ROP with need of LP.

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