A novel marker for predicting type 1 retinopathy of prematurity: C-reactive protein/albumin ratio

We aimed to investigate whether the C-reactive protein (CRP) to albumin ratio (CAR) an inflammatory predictor can be used as a marker for the development of ROP.

Gestational age, birth weight, gender, neonatal, and maternal risk factors were recorded. The patients were divided into two groups: those who did not develop ROP (ROP -) and those who developed ROP (ROP +). The ROP + group was further separated into two groups: those who required treatment (ROP + T) and those who were not treated (ROP + NT). The following parameters were noted in the first postnatal week and at the end of the first postnatal month: CRP, albumin, CAR, white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil, lymphocyte, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), distribution red cell width (RDW), platelet (Plt), and RDW/platelet ratio.

We evaluated 131 premature infants who met the inclusion criteria. There was no difference between the main groups in hemogram parameters and CAR at the postnatal first week. WBC count (p = 0.011), neutrophil count (p = 0.002), and NLR were high (p = 0.004) in the ROP + group at the end of the postnatal 1st month. The CAR level at the end of the first month was higher in the ROP + group (p = 0.027). CAR was similar between the ROP + T and ROP + NT groups (p = 0.112) in the postnatal first week but higher in the treatment-required group at the end of the first month (p < 0.01).

High CAR and high NLR at the end of the postnatal first month can be used to predict the development of severe ROP.