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Gestational age the most important risk factor for ROP, study finds

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In the tiniest premature infants, gestational age is the most important risk factor for development of retinopathy of prematurity, a study found. In relatively more mature infants, both gestational age and neonatal severity of disease were found to be independent risk factors for ROP.

To document the incidence of and risk factors for ROP, K. Allegaert and colleagues at University Hospitals in Gasthuisberg studied the clinical characteristics of the disease in two groups: infants weighing less than 851 g and infants between 851 g and 1350 g. The authors documented stage 3 ROP in infants weighing less than 851 g and any grade ROP in those between 851 g and 1350 g.

Overall, the incidence of any ROP in the 157 infants was 41%. The incidence was 76% in infants under 851 g and 22% in infants between 851 g and 1350 g. Stage 3 ROP incidence rates were 54% in the under-851 g group and 5% in the 851 g to 1350 g group.

Maximal creatinemia was a risk factor in the group of larger infants. Microangiopathy might explain the association between maximal creatinemia and the risk of developing ROP, the authors said.

The study is published in the January issue of European Journal of Ophthalmology.