Maternal and neonatal factors associated with poor early weight gain and later retinopathy of prematurity.

AIM: To identify factors associated with poor early weight gain as reflected in an alarm system, WINROP, and risk of later proliferative retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in infants with gestational age (GA) < 28 weeks.

METHODS

Infants with a WINROP alarm and proliferative ROP, the 'alarm group' (n = 23), were matched to GA and gender to a 'no alarm group' (n = 23) with no WINROP alarm and no or mild ROP. Retrospectively maternal variables, birth characteristics and neonatal factors, during the first three postnatal weeks, were compared.

RESULTS

The 'alarm group' had lower birth weight (BW) and BW standard deviation score, longer stay in ventilator, more insulin and corticosteroid treatments, and lower white blood cell count. In a logistic regression model, BW standard deviation score, insulin, low white blood cell count, absence of both elevated C-reactive protein and premature rupture of membranes were associated with proliferative ROP and WINROP alarm (p = 0.000, r(2) = 0.704).

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that prenatal factors resulting in low BW have persisting effects on early postnatal growth, metabolism and inflammatory response. Future prospective studies will focus on the link between these factors and pathological retinal vessel development in the early postnatal period to find possible preventive strategies.