Developmental outcome in preterm infants <29 weeks gestation with ≤ Stage 3 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP):...

We have determined the influence of the severity of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) on development at 3 years of age in infants <29 weeks gestation from a population-based cohort. Primary analysis of surviving infants born <29 weeks gestational age (GA) from 1998 to 2001 in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory were grouped according to stage of ROP. Infants with periventricular leukomalacia, Grade III or IV intraventricular haemorrhage, hydrocephalus, major congenital abnormalities, Stage 4 or 5 ROP, cerebral palsy or a severe hearing impairment were excluded. Infants with Stage 3 ROP were matched for GA, birthweight and gender to those with no ROP, Stage 1 and Stage 2 ROP. The four groups were then compared for their 3-year-old developmental outcome, using the Griffiths Mental Development Scale. Development was also compared for those infants with Stage 3 ROP who were either treated or not treated with laser therapy. A secondary multivariate regression analysis on developmental outcome was performed with all infants included in the analysis. In neurologically comparable groups and in the multivariate analysis, there was no association between ROP and developmental outcome. There was also no difference in the Griffiths assessment at 3 years between those who were or were not treated for severe ROP. Neither severity of ROP nor treatment for severe ROP were related to developmental outcome at 3 years of age in a large population-based cohort of infants born <29 weeks gestation.