Retinopathy of prematurity incidence and treatment modalities in moderate and late preterm infants: a study from two tertiary centers.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence, severity, and treatment modalities of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in moderate and late preterm infants with a gestational age (GA) >31 + 6 weeks. METHODS: ROP screening results of preterm infants with GA >31 + 6 weeks to 36 + 6 weeks between March 2013 and January 2019 were evaluated retrospectively. Infants were divided into 2 groups according to GA as 32-33 + 6 weeks (moderate preterm) and 34-36 + 6 weeks (late preterm). In these groups, any ROP and severe ROP (requiring treatment) development rates and ROP types and treatment modalities were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 4156 preterm infants, 1875 (45.1%) female and 2281 (54.9%) male, were included. Overall, 1466 (35.2%) of the infants were moderate preterm and 2690 (64.8%) were late preterm. The incidences of any ROP and severe ROP were 22% and 2.5%, respectively. The rate of severe ROP was 5.3% in moderate preterm infants and 0.9% in late preterm infants. Significant correlations were determined between duration of hospital stay, birth weight (BW), and GA with ROP development (r = +0.415, r = -0.258, r = -0.199, respectively; p < 0.001 for all). Of 102 patients (2.5%) requiring treatment, 64 (62.7%) had laser, 34 (33.3%) had intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB), 2 (1.9%) had sequential IVB and laser, and 2 (1.9%) had vitreoretinal surgery. CONCLUSION: ROP seems to still be an important health problem in moderate and late preterm infants in our country according to data from screening high-risk preterm infants with a GA >31 + 6 weeks. In this cohort, ROP development correlates with GA, BW, and duration of hospitalization significantly.

Relationship between Metabolic Syndrome and Uric Acid Levels in Patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and the relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) concentrations and MetS status by sex in patients with FMF. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included all attack-free patients previously diagnosed with FMF who referred to the rheumatology clinic for follow-up between October 2018 and January 2019. This study included 154 patients with FMF (66 males and 88 females) and 154 controls (62 males and 92 females) with similar age and sex. RESULTS: MetS was more prevalent among the FMF patients compared to the controls (42.90% [95% CI: 34.9-51.1%) vs. 28.57% [95% CI: 21.6-36.4%); OR=1.88, 95% Cl: 1.17-3.01, P=0.009]. In the FMF group, we found higher SUA, number of MetS components, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and insulin compared to the control group (P<0.001, P<0.001, P=0.018, P=0.002, P=0.008, respectively). The prevalence of MetS (men: P<0.001, women: P<0.001) and number of MetS components (men: P<0.001, women: P<0.001) were significantly increased with increasing SUA quartiles in both sexes. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of MetS was higher in patients with FMF, and the prevalence of MetS and number of MetS components were significantly increased with increasing SUA quartiles in both men and women with FMF. SUA levels, as a biochemical marker, could be a strong and independent predictor of MetS in patients with FMF, and may provide substantial help with early diagnosis and management of MetS.