Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 19, 2025
Monitoring Dynamic Growth of Retinal Vessels in Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy Mouse Model
Published on: April 2, 2021
Parenteral Fish-Oil Lipid Emulsions in Retinopathy of Prematurity: A Retrospective Comparative Study
Golnaz Gharehbaghi1, Parisa Mohagheghi2, Ahad Sedaghat3
1Firoozabadi Clinical Research Development Unit, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Insights
SMOFlipid emulsion may reduce severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm infants compared to INTRAlipid. Further research is needed to confirm these findings on ROP severity.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Ophthalmology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a significant cause of visual impairment in preterm infants.
- Fish oil-based lipid emulsions are used in parenteral nutrition for neonates.
- Evaluating the impact of different lipid emulsions on ROP development is crucial for optimizing neonatal care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effects of SMOFlipid and INTRAlipid on the severity of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm infants.
- To assess the need for ROP treatment in infants receiving different fish oil-containing regimens.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective observational study of 82 preterm infants with ROP.
- Infants were divided into two groups based on lipid emulsion treatment: INTRAlipid or SMOFlipid.
- Data collected included demographics, morbidities, ROP stage, zone, plus disease, and treatment requirements.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in gestational age, birth weight, or associated morbidities between groups.
- No differences in the overall need for ROP treatment, ROP zones, or presence of plus disease.
- Subgroup analysis revealed significantly lower Stage 3 ROP (severe) in the SMOFlipid group (P=0.04) and higher Stage 0 ROP (P=0.05).
Conclusions:
- While overall treatment needs were similar, SMOFlipid was associated with a lower prevalence of severe ROP (Stage 3) compared to INTRAlipid.
- SMOFlipid may offer a potential benefit in mitigating severe ROP progression in preterm infants.
- Further prospective studies are warranted to confirm these findings.
Purpose:
To evaluate the effects of a fish oil-containing regimen on the severity of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm infants.
Methods:
In this retrospective, observational study, 82 preterm infants with documented retinal examinations were evaluated. Patients' demographic data, associated morbidities, the worst ROP zone, stage, and the presence of plus disease during the follow-up examinations, and the need for ROP treatment in the two groups were recorded and analyzed.
Results:
Forty-three infants were treated with INTRAlipid®, and 39 infants were treated with 20% SMOFlipid. There were no differences in gestational age, birth weight, and associated morbidities between the two groups. No differences were observed among the two groups in their need for treatment (P = 0.51), ROP zones (P = 0.62), and plus disease (P = 0.38). Although no difference was seen in ROP stages between the groups (P = 0.41), in subgroup analysis, Stage 3 (severe ROP) occurred significantly lower in the SMOFlipid group (P = 0.04) and Stage 0 occurred significantly higher in the SMOFlipid-treated infants (P = 0.05).
Conclusions:
This study showed no difference between the two groups regarding the need for the treatment. The lower prevalence of severe ROP in preterm infants receiving SMOFlipid emulsion was observed comparing to the INTRAlipid-treated infants.
