[Screening for retinopathy of prematurity: results of one centre between 1991 and 2002].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to analyse the results of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening, stage of disease and time of treatment from one tertiary care centre.


METHODS
Between 1991 and 2001, 666 infants with a gestational age (GA) < 33 weeks or birth weight (BW) less than < 1501 g were examined. Coagulation treatment was performed in accordance with the Cryo-ROP study, after reaching the threshold. All infants were followed-up until a stable retinal situation was reached.


RESULTS
Mean GA of the 666 infants was 28.5 +/- 2.3 weeks. Mean BW was 1180 +/- 372 g. During the years of screening, the GA and BW significantly decreased, but no significant change in the yearly incidence of ROP was detected. 460 (69.1 %) of the infants did not develop any stage of ROP. Maximum stage of ROP in the worse eye was stage one in 51 (7.6 %) infants, stage two in 59 (8.9 %) infants and stage three below threshold in 62 (9.3 %) infants. 34 (5.1 %) infants were treated with coagulation treatment. Mean time of treatment was 36.5 weeks postmenstrual age, or 10.7 weeks postnatal age. Postnatal age showed a better correlation to treatment time than postmenstrual age. No infant was treated before seven weeks of life and not before 32 weeks postmenstrual age.


CONCLUSIONS
In spite of the increasing survival of children with lower GA and BW the incidence of ROP has not increased, and the incidence of ROP in our centre appears to be comparable to other international studies. In contrast to the Cryo-ROP study, treatment time correlates better to postnatal age than to postmenstrual age. All infants who underwent treatment were detected at an appropriate time using German screening guidelines.
Jandeck
C
C
Universitätsaugenklinik, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin. claudia.jandeck@charite.de
Kellner
U
U
Heimann
H
H
Foerster
M H
MH
D000367:Age Factors; D001724:Birth Weight; D017679:Cryotherapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome