Abstract

P 017

Retinopathy of prematurity in multiple births

Ab.Ghani S., Spasovska K., Schneider N., Elflein H., Oberacher-Velten I., Lorenz B.
Department of Paediatric Ophthalmology, Strabismology and Ophthalmolgenetics, Universitätsklinikum, Regensburg.
Support: Bay. Landesstiftung; Bay. Sparkassenstiftung; DFG (DFG LO 457/4-1,2) and Goverment of Malaysia/Ministry of Health: sub-specialist program.

Objective: To evaluate retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in multiple births.
Methods: This is a retrospective study. Data and images from the Regensburg ROP Telemedical Project¹ were analyzed at the Reading Centre in University of Regensburg. Enrolled in the study were infants undergoing ROP screening between 01/2001 and 12/2006, following the German National Guidelines². Infants were imaged with the digital wide-angle fundus camera RetCam 120. Gestational age (GA), birth weight (BW) and multiple birth status were recorded and ROP stages determined according to the International Classification for ROP³. Main outcome measures were: incidence, severity, symmetry and concordance of ROP in multiple births.
Results: 65 sets of multiple births (142 infants) with complete data were reviewed. 54 sets were of twin pregnancies (83%). Ninety-six percent (137/142) of the infants had similar funduscopic appearance between the two eyes with 13.8% (19/137) developed any stage of ROP. ROP developed in 20% i.e. 13 sets (77% in twin, 23% in triplet). Similar ROP among siblings was present only in 3 pairs of twins (23%). Five infants needed diode laser photocoagulation (2 with zone II and 3 with zone I disease). All infants with zone I disease needed an additional cryotherapy due to insufficient regression of ROP. Infants needing treatment had a significantly lower BW (679±95.9 vs.1072.8±361g, p=0.02).
Conclusions: The majority (96%) of the infants had symmetrical ROP stages between the two eyes. However, only 23% of the sets of twins had similar ROP changes between siblings. Gestational age and birth weight were the most significant factors associated with ROP.
References 1. Elflein, H., Lorenz, B. Teleophthalmology. New York Springer (2006), 109-112 2. Ophthalmologe 1999, 96:257 3. Arch Ophthalmol 2005, 123:991.

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