title: Influence of the blood glucose level on the development of retinopathy of prematurity in extremely premature children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the influence of the blood glucose level on the development of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in extremely premature infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-four premature infants with a gestational age of less than 30 weeks and a birth weight of less than 1500 g were included in the study. Children without ROP were allocated to Group 1 (n=14, gestational age 28.6 ± 1.4 weeks, birth weight 1162 ± 322 g), and children with spontaneous regression of ROP were allocated to Group 2 (n=32, gestational age 26.5 ± 1.2 weeks, birth weight 905 ± 224 g). Children with progressive ROP who underwent laser treatment were included in Group 3 (n=18, gestational age 25.4 ± 0.7 weeks, birth weight 763 ± 138 g). The glucose level in the capillary blood of the premature infants was monitored daily during the first 3 weeks of life. A complete ophthalmological screening was performed from the age of 1 month. The nonparametric signed-rank Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test was used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean blood glucose level was 7.43 ± 2.6 mmol/L in Group 1, 7.8 ± 2.7 mmol/L in Group 2, and 6.7 ± 2.6 mmol/L in Group 3. There were no significant differences in the blood glucose levels between children with and without ROP, and also between children with spontaneously regressing ROP and progressive ROP (p>0.05). Additionally, there were no significant differences in the blood glucose levels measured at the first, second, and third weeks of life (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The blood glucose level is not related to the development of ROP nor with its progression or regression. The glycemic level cannot be considered as a risk factor for ROP, but reflects the severity of newborns' somatic condition and morphofunctional immaturity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, RU.
authors.forename: Galina V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Nicolaeva
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, RU.
authors.forename: Evgenyj I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Sidorenko
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, RU.
authors.forename: Amkhanitskaya Lyubov
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Iosifovna
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose