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 ROP in infants with gestational age <28 weeks. Methods: Infants with a WINROP alarm and proliferative ROP, the "alarm group" (n=23) were matched to gestational age 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 and birth weight standard deviation score, longer stay in ventilator, more insulin and corticosteroid treatments, and lower white blood cell count. In a logistic regression model birth weight 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 birth weight 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.

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)