Is Pacific Race a Retinopathy of Prematurity Risk Factor?

Abstract

In this limited study, we find increased risk of threshold ROP in 2 northern Pacific races. Threshold Alaskan natives had similar or better prenatal and neonatal intensive care unit variables than did threshold nonnatives; however, Alaskan native males were still at a greater risk.

Retinopathy of prematurity: Does race matter?

“…However, our findings remain that the Asian infants in this study had a greater risk profile compared to comparable infants of different races. In addition, that there are other studies that are consistent with our findings of a relatively high risk of developing severe ROP for Asians as in our sample [19]. It is also worth noting that our study also shows that the Hispanic subset of infants are more premature, smaller and sicker (see Table 2), yet they have a more favorable risk profile for ROP than Asian infants.…”

Retinopathy of prematurity: contribution of inflammatory and genetic factors

“…This result was found in other later studies [2,98], although one study found an opposite result, a higher incidence of ROP requiring treatment in black PTI than in Caucasian PTI [99]. Studies have found a higher risk of ROP in Asians and Alaskan natives than in Caucasians [100,101]. One mechanism to explain some of the racial differences observed in ROP is polymorphisms of the β-blocker receptor.…”

Genetic susceptibility to advanced retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)

“…personal communication]. This genetic predisposition is further supported by the recent twin studies [20], race [21] and strain-dependent differences in oxygen induced ROP in the inbred rats [22-24]. Because three of the four FEVR genes are mutated in advanced ROP and all four FEVR genes are involved in Wnt signaling pathway, the above genetic explanation of ROP supports a role for the Wnt signaling pathway in the development of severe ROP that can be of a therapeutic value in the future.…”