The role of hemoglobin variant replacement in retinopathy of prematurity

To conduct tests of relationships between different factors that could influence the course of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and ROP, particularly the role of hemoglobin variant replacement in adult blood transfusions.

A retrospective, observational study of 83 infants born between 23 and 34 wks gestation was conducted.

The infants without ROP, with 1 and 2 stage of ROP and with ≥ 3 stage of ROP received Q 28 (12-134); 51 (14-149); 156 (38-244) ml/kg of transfused blood, respectively, and the factor Qt was 1,545 (560-10,045); 3,093 (614-13,419); 11,907 (1,288-20,638) (ml/kg)·day, respectively. For the same groups MCV(35) (mean cell volume at the arbitrary time of the 35(th) wk post-conception) was 92.3 (82.9-110.5); 91.0 (79.3-101.4); 87.1 (80.2-94.8) fl, respectively, and factor P(MCV)/t was 99.5 (89.2-108.8); 96.3 (84.6-106.3); 90.7 (85.3-96.5) fl, respectively. There is high influence on the stage of ROP of the amount of transfused blood and MCV, both with or without the time factor. The statistical differences between P(MCV)/t were more significant than the differences between MCV(35), for different stages of ROP.

The influence of the time factor on the statistical differences of MCV but not on the amount of transfused adult blood suggests that HbF - HbA replacement may play a role in ROP development.