Incidence and rate of disappearance of retinal hemorrhage in newborns.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalance, associated biometric factors, and rate of disappearance of neonatal retinal hemorrhage.


METHODS
Cross-sectional and natural history study.


METHODS
Healthy newborns (n = 149) at an urban hospital were examined using indirect ophthalmoscopy within 30 hours of birth. Newborns with retinal hemorrhage were reexamined biweekly until hemorrhage resolved.


METHODS
Neonatal and maternal biometric factors, and incidence and rate of resolution of retinal hemorrhage.


RESULTS
Intraretinal hemorrhage was present in 34% of newborns and varied from a single dot hemorrhage in one eye to bilateral widespread hemorrhages, occasionally with white centers. The incidence of hemorrhage was higher for vacuum-assisted (75%) than for spontaneous vaginal deliveries (33%) and was least for infants delivered by cesarean section (7%). The mean maternal age was greater for infants with retinal hemorrhage. By 2 weeks after birth, retinal hemorrhage resolved in 86% of eyes, and at 4 weeks no intraretinal hemorrhage was detected, although a single subretinal hemorrhage persisted until 6 weeks after birth.


CONCLUSIONS
Intraretinal hemorrhages are common in the immediate postnatal period and resolve by 1 month of age. Retinal hemorrhage in infants older than 1 month should heighten suspicion that the hemorrhage is associated with factors other than birth.
Emerson
M V
MV
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Pieramici
D J
DJ
Stoessel
K M
KM
Berreen
J P
JP
Gariano
R F
RF
D003237:Connecticut / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods; D006786:Hospitals, Urban / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008423:Maternal Age; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D015995:Prevalence; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012166:Retinal Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors