Perinatal intracranial hemorrhage and retinopathy of prematurity: currently nonpreventable complications of premature birth?
There is now considerable evidence that the control of cerebral circulation in sick small infants is sometimes seriously deranged and subject to wide fluctuations during neonatal care. Our current preoccupation with looking at oxygen administration and peripheral arterial oxygen tensions as the only cause of ROP is not likely to be productive. Until we know more about the causes of cerebral blood flow fluctuation, IVH, asphyxia, and their effects on the retinal circulation, we are not apt to make much progress. There is a strong association between retinopathy and IVH in premature infants. With our current knowledge, we are unable to prevent or to treat either IVH or ROP. The public should be better informed that both of these conditions are usually unavoidable complications of premature birth.
D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000150:complications; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010100:Oxygen / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000188:drug therapy; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
D010100:Oxygen