Assisted conception and retinopathy of prematurity: 8-year follow-up study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of assisted conception (AC) on retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and ROP screening. Follow-up to the study by McKibbin et al.


METHODS
Retrospective study utilising computerised databases of ROP screening, live births, AC and multiple births between 1st April 2000 and 31st August 2003 at St James's Hospital (SJUH) Leeds. chi(2) tests of significance were used.


RESULTS
ROP screening was undertaken in 11/265 (4.2%) of AC births versus 1.6% of all SJUH births. This is significantly less than the 20.3% of AC babies screened in McKibbin et al study (P=<0.01). There was no ROP detected in the 11 AC babies. Of all AC births, 36.9% were one of twins and 1.5% from triplet births compared to 46.0% one of twins and 18.6% one of triplets in McKibbin's study.


CONCLUSIONS
The percentage of AC babies requiring ROP screening has fallen since McKibbin et al study which was performed between August 1991 and December 1994. This appears to be at least partially due to the reduced multiple birth rates. This reduction in the multiple birth rates follows evidence that reducing the number of embryos transferred does not reduce the number of couples taking home a baby and Human Fertility and Embryology Association guidelines recommending 'no more than two embryos should be transferred in an IVF cycle'. Changes in clinical practice at SJUH have significantly reduced the likelihood of AC babies requiring ROP screening and developing ROP.
Funnell
C L
CL
Department of Ophthalmology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, Leeds, Yorkshire, UK. c.l.funnell@doctors.org.uk
Dabbs
T R
TR
D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009099:Multiple Birth Offspring; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies