Preterm Assessment at Birth and Its Association With the Development of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP): A Tertiary Care Center Experience

Abstract

Background: Prematurity is a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality and is associated with insufficient development of multiple body structures, including neurovascular and retinal tissues. Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is an abnormal vaso proliferation of the neonatal retina that results from an arrest in the normal development of the retinal nerve and blood supply. Incidence has been increasing due to advancements in intensive care and survival of preterm neonates, as well as improvements in screening methods for ROP.Objectives: The objective is to assess the initial clinical and laboratory characteristics of preterm infants at the time of birth to identify population-specific risk factors for the development of ROP in a tertiary care center in western Saudi Arabia.Methods and materials: This was a retrospective record review conducted at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The study included 37 patients diagnosed with ROP. Their ROP staging, complete blood count, appearance, pulse, grimace, activity and respiration (APGAR) score, and birth characteristics were all analyzed.Results: Thirty-seven neonates diagnosed with ROP and who met the study inclusion criteria were included. our results showed a female predominance of 51.4%, the mean age of the pregnancy was 27.18 ± 2.29 weeks, the mean birth weight was 0.8 ± 0.26, and 66.7% of our sample was delivered by the cesarean section. A significant association was found between the birth weight and the development of ROP in the right eye (p = 0.026); another significance was found between gestational age and the development of ROP in the same eye (p = 0.016).Conclusions: A low birth weight and gestational age show a significant association with the development of ROP. Early identification and treatment of ROP are important to preserve a neonate's eyesight.

Retinopathy of Prematurity in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at King Fahd University Hospital, Eastern Province: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and pattern of severity Seven years’ experience.

“…4 The prevalence of patients diagnosed with ROP was 37.3%, which is relatively similar to that reported by Al-Qahtani et al in 2019 but substantially lower than the proportion discovered in the 2008 study by Binkhathlan et al Both preterm eyes had a stage 1 predominance, with 18 in the right eye and 21 in the left eye, respectively. 7 We found similar results in our study: the prevalence was stage 1 (46. %), and a unilateral eye affection by (73.3%).…”

“…The International Classification for ROP (ICROP) was established in 1984. According to the zones of the retina affected by the illness (1, 2, and 3), the extent of the disease as measured by clock hours (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12), and the severity of the disease as measured by different stages (0-5), the ROP is categorized. 4 Moreover, a demarcation line, ridge with height and width, proliferation of fibrovascular cells in extra retinal tissue, partial retinal detachment, and total retinal detachment are the five phases of ROP.…”

“…The study showed a 51.4% female predominance, a mean gestational age of 27 weeks, a mean birth weight of 800 g, birth weight, and the development of ROP in the right eye were significantly correlated, as were gestational age and the development of ROP in the same eye, and 66.7% of infants who developed ROP were delivered by cesarean section. 7 Lastly, a cohort review was conducted in King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 2010 to 2014, with a total of 581 newly enrolled patients. A total of 224 newborns (38.6%) had ROP, and 22 (10.4%) had stage 3 ROP.…”