title: Antenatal dexamethasone and decreased severity of retinopathy of prematurity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess risk factors associated with the development of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in an urban population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bellevue Hospital Center, a regional perinatal referral center in New York City.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surviving inborn infants with birth weight less than 1250 g undergoing an ophthalmologic screening examination.
  
  
  METHODS
  Screening examination results for ROP were obtained. Additional data included birth weight, gestational age, maternal factors, and common neonatal diagnoses and exposures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-three infants were included in the analysis. Mean +/- SD birth weight was 981+/-179 g and mean gestational age was 27.8+/-2.4 weeks. Infants whose mothers received antenatal dexamethasone developed significantly less ROP that was stage 2 or higher than infants without a history of antenatal dexamethasone exposure--8.7% (2/23) vs 35% (14/40), respectively (P=.04). Birth weight, gestational age, respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and patent ductus arteriosus were also significantly associated with the development of ROP that was stage 2 or higher. After controlling for these confounders by multiple logistic regression analysis, antenatal dexamethasone administration was associated with a significantly decreased risk of development of ROP stage 2 or higher (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.02-0.93). The association was stronger when the analysis was restricted to the 36 infants who were 24 to 28 weeks of gestational age (adjusted OR, 0.02; 95% CI, 0.00-0.76).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Antenatal dexamethasone administration appears to be associated with a decreased incidence of development of ROP of stage 2 or higher in this urban population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, New York University Medical Center and Bellevue Hospital Center, New York City, USA. higginsr1@gunet.georgetown.edu
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Higgins
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Mendelsohn
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: DeFeo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ucsel
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Hendricks-Munoz
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009519:New York City; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone