title: Postnatal dexamethasone treatment and retinopathy of prematurity in very-low-birth-weight neonates.
abstract: Whether postnatal dexamethasone treatment for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) increases the risk of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) neonates is uncertain. We performed a retrospective cohort study to determine the association between dexamethasone administered postnatally and the development of ROP in VLBW (< or = 1,250 g birth weight, < or = 32 weeks' gestational age at birth) neonates. The incidence of severe ROP (stage 2 or higher) was 26% among 72 infants who received no dexamethasone postnatally, 61% among 23 infants who received a low cumulative dexamethasone dose (< or = 1.8 mg/kg body weight), and 85% among 20 infants who received a high cumulative dexamethasone dose (> 1.8 mg/kg body weight). However, after adjustment for confounding covariates of prematurity and severity of lung disease by logistic regression analysis, we found no independent association between postnatal dexamethasone treatment and the incidence of severe ROP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tenn., USA.
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Cuculich
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: DeLozier
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Mellen
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Shenai
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000188:drug therapy; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D044469:Racial Groups; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone