[Brain damage in relation to occurrence of retinopathy of prematurity. A regional ophthalmologic follow up of premature infants born 1982-1984].

Regular ophthalmic surveillance started in 1982 for all surviving prematures in Frederiksborg County considered at risk of developing retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). During 1982-1984 185 infants of gestational age 25-35 weeks at delivery were examined; blindness eventually appeared in four out of the 28 who showed some stage of ROP. All 28 attended ophthalmic reassessment at age 7-10 years and were compared with 60 of the same cohort without evidence of ROP. At follow-up (n = 88) there was evidence of psychomotor disturbances in 45 children, manifesting as major CNS damage in 21, and minor in 24. With correction for drop-outs the regional frequency of severe CNS damage (mainly cerebral palsy and mental retardation) was 29.6% for gestational ages < 32 weeks at delivery and 24% as calculated for birth weights < 1500 g. An analysis of perinatal factors based mainly on matched pairs did not indicate any definite association with subsequent damage to eye or brain, and statistically there was no association between severity of ROP and CNS impairment. We have no explanation for the high frequency of CNS impairment at follow-up.