[Birth-related retinal hemorrhages in the newborn: incidence and relationship with maternal, obstetric and neonatal factors. Prospective study of 2,031 cases]. / Hémorragies rétiniennes liées à l'accouchement chez le nouveau-né : fréquence et relation avec les facteurs maternels, néonataux et obstétricaux. Étude prospective de 2031 cas.

PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence, morphology and distribution of retinal hemorrhages in healthy newborns and their relationship to neonatal, maternal and obstetrical factors, and to determine their natural history. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The present study prospectively included 2,031 consecutive healthy newborns. Indirect ophthalmoscopy was performed within 24 hours after birth in all newborns. Infants with retinal hemorrhages were reexamined weekly until the hemorrhage resolved. Annual ophthalmologic follow-up was also scheduled in these children. Neonatal, maternal and obstetric parameters were analyzed in all newborns and compared between newborns with retinal hemorrhages and those without retinal hemorrhages. RESULTS: 31.8 % of newborns exhibited retinal hemorrhages. 72.6 % of hemorrhages were bilateral. They tended to be localized around the optic discs and in the posterior pole, but their distribution was variable. Retinal hemorrhages were of variable shapes. The prevalence of retinal hemorrhages was higher in newborns delivered with vacuum-assisted extraction (38 %, P<0.001), intermediate during normal vaginal delivery (32.6 %, P<0.001) and lower with cesarean section (20.8 %). Comparative analysis between elective cesarean section and emergency cesarean showed a higher incidence of retinal hemorrhages in the emergency cesarean group (P=0.006). On multivariate analysis, vacuum-assisted delivery was the only factor associated with a higher prevalence of retinal hemorrhages in newborns (P=0.045). Two thirds of hemorrhages had disappeared by one week after birth. Retinal hemorrhages had resolved in all newborns within four weeks. CONCLUSION: Birth-related retinal hemorrhages are common (1/3 of our newborns). Vacuum-assisted delivery is the main risk factor in this study. All hemorrhages resolved by one month of age. These findings may help in differential diagnosis with shaken baby syndrome.

[Langerhans cell histiocytosis located in the orbit]. / L'histiocytose Langerhansienne a localisation orbitaire.

Langerhan's cell Histiocytosis of the orbit. Langerhan's cell Histiocytosis is a rare condition that affects children and less frequently young adults. It is characterized by a proliferation of histiocytes derived from Langerhan's cells. Orbital involvement is described in 20% of cases where orbital eosinophilic granuloma located in the frontal bone is the most frequent. The malignant nature of this disease is not established. Its evolution is unpredictable and spontaneous regression after simple biopsy were described. The authors report four cases of Langerhan's cell Histiocytosis and will discuss on the clinical and radiological aspects as well as on the evolution of orbital histiocytoses X.