title: Correlation of postnatal regression of the anterior vascular capsule of the lens to gestational age.
abstract: The AVC of the lens was examined and graded at birth and prospectively at weekly intervals, in 30 preterm infants of gestational age between 27 and 34 weeks. Influence of postnatal age, postnatal nutrition, subsequent development of retinopathy of prematurity as well as intrauterine growth retardation, multiple gestation and prenatal maternal steroid administration on regression of AVC was analyzed. We conclude that examination of the AVC of the lens can reliably be used to estimate gestational age between 27th and 34th weeks, in appropriate as well as small for gestational age infants. Such an examination can be used postnatally, provided that the infant's corrected gestational age is between 27 and 34 weeks. Prenatal steroid administration, postnatal nutritional status or subsequent development of retinopathy of prematurity do not appear to be correlated with the rate of AVC regression.
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000196:embryology; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis