Degree of thrombocytopenia and severity of retinopathy of prematurity.

BACKGROUND

Growing evidence links thrombocytopenia to retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm infants. However, it remains unclear whether the degree of thrombocytopenia affects the severity of ROP.

METHODS

VLBW (<1500 g) infants were divided into two groups. Group (A) with and Group (B) without thrombocytopenia. Chi square test, logistic regression, and correlation coefficient analysis models were used for statistical analysis. Statistical significance was set at a p value < 0.05.

RESULTS

Of the 305 VLBW infants, 47% developed ROP in group A compared to 16% in group B. Severe ROP occurred in 20% of infants in group A, whereas none in group B developed severe ROP. There was a significant inverse relationship between platelets count as a continuous variable and the grade of ROP (Spearman correlation coefficient: -0.36, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Thrombocytopenia is an independent risk factor for ROP in VLBW infants, with lower platelet counts associated with increased ROP severity.