AN ASSOCIATION BETWEEN RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY AND INTRAVENTRICULAR HEMORRHAGE IN VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT INFANTS

ABSTRACT Procianoy, R. S., Garcia-Prats, J. A., Hittner, H. M., Adams, J. M. and Rudolph, A. J. (Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas). An association between retinopathy of prematurity and intraventricular hemorrhage in very low birth weight infants. Acta Paediatr Scand, 70:473,.–An association between cicatricial retinopathy of prematurity and intraventricular hemorrhage in very low birth weight infants was investigated retrospectively. Newborns were studied who weighed ≤1500 g at birth, who were ≤32 weeks gestational age and appropriate by weight, and admitted in the first 24 hours of life to our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Diagnosis of retinopathy of prematurity was made by retinal examination at approximately 4 weeks of age. Diagnosis of intraventricular hemorrhage was made by computerized tomography and clinical findings. A total of 138 infants were studied and divided into two groups: (A) birth weight ≤1000 g (31); (B) birth weight 1 001–1 500 g (107). There was a statistically significant association between cicatricial retinopathy of prematurity and intraventricular hemorrhage in both groups. There were no statistical differences between birth weight, gestational age, duration of oxygen therapy, highest oxygen concentration received, Apgar scores, incidence of hyaline membrane disease and patent ductus arteriosus between cicatricial retinopathy of prematurity and no retinopathy of prematurity patients in either group. This association may be an important consideration in the pathogenesis of both vascular diseases.     

LOW BIRTH WEIGHT, THE "SMALL FOR DATES" SYNDROME AND PERINATAL MORTALITY IN A LOW FAMILY INCOME GROUP

In 1100 consecutive deliveries the “prematurity” rate was found to be 22%. Mean birth weight was 6.2 lb, or 2800 g. 17% showed a birth weight of less than 2500 g in spite of gestational age over 36 weeks. Intrauterine mortality was 4% and neonatal mortality 5%. Still births were predominantly in the antenatally neglected lower income groups and the causes of neonatal mortality is considered as mainly secondary to poor ante- and post-natal care.