Birth weight deviation and early postnatal growth are related to optic nerve morphology at school age in children born preterm.

• The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of early and later postnatal growth variables on optic disc morphology in children (n = 53) born at gestational age <32 wk. On fundus photographs taken at a median age of 5.4 y, the optic discs were evaluated using digital image analysis and compared with those of a control group (n = 203). The results were analyzed in relation to gestational age, birth weight (BW) SD score (SDS), IGF-1 weight at postmenstrual age 32 wk (SDS), and weight, length, and head circumference (SDS) at follow-up. The preterm children's optic disc and neuronal rim areas were smaller than in the control group. Low BW (SDS) and weight at wk 32 (SDS) were associated with larger area of the optic cup and reduced neuronal rim area. Preterm children with known brain lesions (n = 6) had significantly larger cups than preterm children without known brain lesions. The association found between both low BW and poor early growth and later reduced neuronal tissue of the optic nerve indicate that early weight gain is important for neural development in preterm children.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Oftalmologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Ophthalmology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Birth Weight

Body Height

Brain Diseases

pathology

physiopathology

Case-Control Studies

Cephalometry

Child

Child

Preschool

Female

Gestational Age

Head

pathology

Humans

Infant

Newborn

Infant

Premature

Male

Ophthalmoscopy

Optic Disk

growth & development

pathology

Retinopathy of Prematurity

pathology

physiopathology

Weight Gain

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)