Longitudinal postnatal weight measurements for the prediction of retinopathy of prematurity.
OBJECTIVE
To validate longitudinal postnatal weight gain as a method for predicting severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in a US cohort.


METHODS
Both ROP evaluations and weekly weight measurements from birth to postmenstrual week 36 for 318 infants were entered into a computer-based surveillance system, WINROP. This system signaled an alarm when the rate of weight gain decreased compared with control subjects. Infants were classified into 3 groups: (1) no alarm, (2) low-risk alarm, or (3) high-risk alarm. Maximum ROP for each infant was categorized as (1) no ROP (immature or mature vascularization), (2) mild ROP (stage 1 or 2 ROP in zone II or III, without plus disease), or (3) severe ROP (any prethreshold, any stage 3, or threshold ROP). A high-risk alarm identified infants at risk for developing severe ROP.


RESULTS
A high-risk alarm occurred in 81 infants (25.5%) and detected all infants who developed severe ROP a median of 9 weeks before diagnosis. The remaining infants received no alarm or a low-risk alarm. None of these infants developed more than mild ROP.


CONCLUSIONS
Longitudinal postnatal weight gain may help predict ROP. In a US cohort, the WINROP system had a sensitivity of 100% and identified infants early who developed severe ROP. With further validation, WINROP has the potential to safely reduce the number of ROP examinations.
Wu
Carolyn
C
Department of Ophthalmology, Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. carolyn.wu@childrens.harvard.edu
Vanderveen
Deborah K
DK
Hellström
Ann
A
Löfqvist
Chatarina
C
Smith
Lois E H
LE
D000465:Algorithms; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*
D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
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