Risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity requiring photocoagulation.

PURPOSE: To analyze risk factors other than birthweight (BW) and gestational age for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) requiring photocoagulation in infants (BW<1500 g).

METHODS

We divided 45 eyes with ROP into three groups (A, without photocoagulation; B, with <6 clock hours photocoagulation; C, with > or =6 clock hours photocoagulation) and analyzed maternal and neonatal factors by multiple logistic regression.

RESULTS

Among 13 factors, the number of days of infection, defined as C-reactive protein (CRP) greater than 1.0 mg/dl, was a significant risk between groups A and B+C [Odds ratio (OR), 1.549; 95% Confidence interval (CI), 1.008-2.381; P=0.046]. Among six after-birth factors, the number of days of infection (OR, 1.404; 95% CI, 1.023-1.928; P=0.036) was significant between groups A and B+C, and the number of blood transfusions (OR, 4.959; 95% CI, 1.002-24.54; P=0.050) and use of rescue surfactant (OR, 413.9; 95% CI, 1.163-147306; P=0.044) were significant between groups B and C.

CONCLUSIONS

CRP should be routinely monitored while observing the progress of preterm infants. The probability of requiring photocoagulation increased in infants who received a blood transfusion or rescue surfactant.