Parenteral nutrition use and recurrence requiring retreatment of retinopathy of prematurity after anti-VEGF monotherapy: a retrospective cohort study of preterm infants.

BACKGROUND

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) poses a significant threat to the vision of premature infants worldwide. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents have been effective in treating ROP; however, treatment failure or recurrence remains a challenge. This study aims to investigate the relationship between potential risk factors and ROP recurrent requiring retreatment.

METHODS

In our retrospective cohort of 96 premature infants (187 eyes) treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF injections at a tertiary center from 2010 to 2015, we analyzed perinatal, nutritional, and ocular variables. ROP recurrence requiring retreatment occurred in 14.6% of patients.

RESULTS

Our findings revealed that parenteral nutrition use during initial management was significantly correlated (p = 0.020), with a fourfold increased risk (OR = 4.400, 95% CI: 1.261–15.359) of retreatment in multivariable analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

In this retrospective cohort, continued use of parenteral nutrition at the time of anti-VEGF treatment was associated with recurrence requiring retreatment in premature infants.