The Use of Postnatal Weight Gain Algorithms to Predict Severe or Type 1 Retinopathy of Prematurity

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Abstract
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a disease of pathologic neovascularization affecting preterm infants. In early postnatal life, hyperoxia leads to suppression of vascular growth factors (phase 1). Subsequently, as retinal hypoxia sets in, there is an upsurge of vascular growth factors leading to unregulated vasoproliferation (phase 2).1 ROP either regresses spontaneously or continues to advance and can progress to cause retinal detachment and blindness if not detected and treated early.2 Infants with lower gestation and lower birth weight have a higher risk of developing ROP. Currently, at-risk infants are screened using repeated eye examinations (binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy [BIO]) starting at approximately 30 to 32 weeks’ postmenstrual age and continuing until the retinal vasculature is fully mature (approximately 40 weeks’ postmenstrual age).3 However, only fewer than 10% of screened infants need treatment for ROP.2

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