2M.D. Asistant Profassor, Dicle University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Diyarbakır/TURKEY
3M.D. Profassor, Dicle University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Diyarbakır/TURKEY Purpose: To evaluate the frequency of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm babies with a birth weight (BW) over 1500 g.
Material and Methods: The medical records of premature babies examined between July 2010 and June 2012 were retrospectively evaluated. Babies with a BW over 1500 g were enrolled to the study. BW, gestational age (GA), onset and grade of retinopathy, oxygen treatment, multiple pregnancy and accompanying systemic diseases were investigated.
Results: Of the total 65 premature babies, 41 were male (63%), and 24 were female (37%). ROP developed in 13 (20%) babies. In babies with ROP, the mean GA was 29.7±1.5 (28-32) weeks and the mean BW was 1838±333 g (1530-2600 gr). All babies with ROP received supplementary oxygen therapy. Of the babies with ROP, 5 were stage-1, 6 were stage-2, and 2 were stage-3. Three patients with ROP (4.6%) needed treatment with argon laser photocoagulation (LPC) (n=2) or intravitreal bevacizumab injection (n=1). One of these had respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), one had RDS and sepsis together and one had hydrocephalus. 21 of 65 babies were one of twin pairs and one was one of the triplets. There were 5 twin pairs in the ROP group.
Conclusion: ROP developed in 20% of the babies with a BW over 1500 g. Nearly 25% of them needed treatment. In conclusion, even if preterm babies have a BW over 1500 g they still have considerable risk for development of ROP, particularly if they have additional systemic diseases or a history of supplementary oxygen treatment, and they should be examined regularly.
Keywords : Birth weight, retinopathy of prematurity