Lack of association of glucocorticoid therapy and retinopathy of prematurity.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if glucocorticoid therapy alters the severity of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

DESIGN

Retrospective survey.

SETTING

Tertiary intensive care nursery.

PATIENTS: One hundred forty-seven surviving infants with birth weight of 1.25 kg or less born July 1990 through January 1993.

OUTCOME MEASURES: Maximum stage of retinopathy and the need for cryosurgery.

RESULTS

Using logistic regression, neither corticosteroid exposure nor total corticosteroid dose was associated with either ROP greater than stage 2 or cryosurgery. The significant predictors of ROP greater than stage 2 were birth weight and the duration of supplemental oxygen therapy. The only significant risk factor for cryosurgery was gestational age.

CONCLUSIONS

No association between corticosteroid therapy and the severity of ROP was found after controlling for traditional risk factors such as birth weight, gestational age, and duration of supplemental oxygen therapy.