[Incidence, severity and risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity in premature infants with late retinal examination]

To determine the incidence, severity and risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity [ROP] in premature infants with late retinal examination at Farabi Hospital from 2001 to 2006. In a cross-sectional study, hospital records of premature infants who were examined later than 9 weeks after birth were reviewed for possible risk factors of ROP including gender, singleton or multiple gestations, gestational age [GA], birth weight [BW], oxygen therapy, blood transfusion, phototherapy, and respiratory distress syndrome [RDS], as well as the age at initial examination. From 693 infants referred for ROP screening, 191 [27.6%] had late retinal examination at mean age of 144.8 +/- 158.4 [range 64-1460] days. Of these 191 infants, 75 [39.3%] had different stages of ROP, 58 [30.4%] had stage 4 or 5 disease and 27 [14.1%] had stage 5 ROP in both eyes which were untreatable. GA and BW were associated with development of ROP [P<0.001]. The high prevalence of premature infants with late retinal examination and high incidence of severe ROP necessitates prompt intervention to optimize referral and early screening of premature infants

[Frequency and severity of retinopathy of prematurity: singleton versus multiple-births]

To determine the frequency and severity of retinopathy of prematurity [ROP] among singleton and multiple-birth neonates referred to Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran-Iran. We reviewed the records of 99 consecutive neonates from multiple-gestation pregnancies including 68 twins, 26 triplets and 5 quadruplets who were screened for ROP during 2002-2004. The frequency, severity and risk factors of ROP were determined. The results were compared with a group of singletons who did not differ from the multiple-birth group regarding birth weight, gestational age, oxygen therapy, respiratory distress syndrome, transfusion, sepsis, phototherapy and gender. ROP was present in 12.1% of multiple-birth neonates compared to 15.1% in singletons [P=0.53]. Threshold ROP was present in 6.1% of multiple-birth neonates and 7.1% of singletons [P=0.62]. ROP was detected in 60% of quadruplets vs 9.6% of twins and triplets with threshold disease in 40% of quadruplets compared to 4.2% in twins and triplets. Logistic regression analysis revealed no statistically significant differences in frequency and severity of ROP among subgroups of multiple-gestation pregnancies [P= 0.79]. The higher frequency of ROP among multiple-birth neonates is due to lower birth weight and gestational age but there is no significant difference between multiple-births and singletons in terms of frequency and stages of ROP. Screening for ROP in multiple pregnancy births may be conducted according to the same standard protocols as for singletons

[Prevalence and risk factors of retinopathy of prematurity in very low birth weight or low gestational age infants]

To determine the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity [ROP] and to evaluate the possible neonatal risk factors for ROP. This cross-sectional study included all premature infants born at hospitals affiliated to Tehran Medical University, Tehran-Iran who were referred within 4-6 weeks after delivery to Farabi Eye Hospital from 2004 to 2005. Inclusion criteria were birth weight [BW] < 1500 g or gestational age [GA] 32 wk who may be at high risk for ROP should also be screened