Retinal hemorrhages and apparent life-threatening events.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of retinal hemorrhages in apparent life-threatening events (ALTEs) with the purpose of facilitating the differential diagnosis of the cases of nonaccidental head trauma.


METHODS
Prospective study on children aged 15 days to 2 years admitted to our hospital with a diagnosis of an ALTE over a period of 2 years (May 2004-May 2006). All the children underwent detailed ophthalmologic examination within 72 hours of admission. If retinal hemorrhages were detected, further investigation was undertaken to rule out systemic disorder or maltreatment.


RESULTS
One hundred eight children with an ALTE were examined. No patient was found to have retinal hemorrhages nor was any found to have experienced child abuse. Therefore, using the Hanley rule of 3, we can be confident to an upper limit of 95% that the chance of retinal hemorrhages occurring as a result of an ALTE alone is at the most 0.028.


CONCLUSIONS
Apparent life-threatening events alone are unlikely to cause retinal hemorrhages in children younger than 2 years. Therefore, if retinal hemorrhages are detected, investigation into the possibility of nonaccidental injury is essential.
Curcoy
Ana Isabel
AI
Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain. acurcoy@hsjdbcn.org
Trenchs
Victoria
V
Morales
Marta
M
Serra
Alicia
A
Pou
Jordi
J
D000208:Acute Disease; D001049:Apnea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D004630:Emergencies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010167:Pallor / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012166:Retinal Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D038642:Shaken Baby Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012769:Shock / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology