Management of retinopathy of prematurity with cryotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
Newborns at risk for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) should be examined 4 to 8 weeks postpartum. Various treatment modalities including cryotherapy, are proposed to ablate the retinal proliferation, when serious and progressive ROP is detected. This study stresses as main risk factors low birth weight and short gestational age as pre-disposing to ROP and the efficiency of cryotherapy as a treatment modality.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty five newborns were examined before hospital discharge and after oxygen administration was terminated. Patients with suspected ROP returned for frequent follow-up visits. In patients with stage III ROP (ridge with extraretinal fibrovascular proliferation) ablation by cryotherapy was performed.


RESULTS
Retinal ridge and extraretinal proliferation characteristic of stage III ROP were detected in ten newborns. All surviving stage III patients were treated with cryoablation and two of them progressed to stage IV. Regression of ROP was observed in eight of the ten treated cases.


CONCLUSIONS
With properly planned screening of newborns at risk for ROP, early diagnosis and treatment are possible. Cryotherapy seems to be effective for ablation of the proliferation.
Gezer
A
A
University of Istanbul, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Turkey. agezer@doctor4u.com
Sezen
F
F
Serifoğlu
I
I
Karaçorlu
M
M
D017679:Cryotherapy; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D012307:Risk Factors