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Published on: September 16, 2020
Risk factors associated with avascular fibrous membrane in patients with retinopathy of prematurity
Emrah Utku Kabatas1, Serdar Ozates2
1Department of Ophthalmology, Dr. Sami Ulus Maternity and Children's Health and Diseases Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Purpose:
We sought to assess the risk factors associated with avascular fibrous membrane development in patients with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).
Methods:
This retrospective, cross-sectional study included premature infants diagnosed with ROP. Gestational age, birth weight, stage and zone of the ROP, the presence of plus disease, and laser photocoagulation (LP) application were noted for each patient. Location, extension, development time, vanishing time of the avascular fibrous membrane, and associated complications were also noted. Patients who developed avascular fibrous membrane formed the membrane group (n = 38) and those who did not develop avascular fibrous membrane formed the control group (n = 208).
Results:
Mean gestational age and birth weight did not differ between the groups (p = 0.897 and p = 0.343). ROP developed significantly earlier in the control group than in the membrane group (p < 0.001). The patients in the control group underwent LP treatment significantly earlier than did patients in the membrane group (p < 0.001). Regression analysis showed that higher postmenstrual age at the time of ROP diagnosis increased the risk of avascular fibrous membrane development by up to 1.6-fold (p = 0.002; 95% CI 1.2-2.3) and later LP treatment was associated with a 3.3-fold increased risk of avascular fibrous membrane development (p = 0.003; 95% CI 1.5-7.3).
Conclusions:
Late-onset ROP and later LP treatment were found to be associated with an increased risk of avascular fibrous membrane development in patients with ROP.
