Retinopathy of prematurity in Korean infants with birthweight greater than 1500 g.
To determine the incidence and clinical features of, and risk factors for, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in Korean infants with birthweight (BW) >1500 g.



A total of 201 consecutive infants with BW >1500 g from January 2009 to December 2013 were included. The location and maximal stage of retinopathy observed were recorded for each infant. The associated systemic and maternal risk factors in infants with mild or absent ROP were compared with those in infants with treatment-requiring ROP.



The total incidence of ROP was 11.94% and that of treatment-requiring ROP was 3.98%. Two patients with gestational age (GA) >32 weeks and BW >1500 g had treatment-requiring ROP. 15 eyes from eight infants with type I ROP required laser photocoagulation. The mean BWs and GAs in the treatment-requiring ROP group were significantly lower than those in the no or mild ROP group. Total duration of oxygen supplementation, surfactant usage, respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, antibiotic use for more than 14 days and the number of ROP-associated risk factors significantly increased the likelihood of treatment-requiring ROP (p=0.002, p=0.008, p=0.008, p=0.000, p=0.015, and p=0.004, respectively).



Our study confirmed that treatment-requiring ROP does occur in infants with BW >1500 g. To avoid overlooking infants with vision-threatening ROP, an evaluation of the data from larger BW preterm infants is advisable so that screening guidelines in neonatal care units may be refined.
Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Science, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.
Shin Hae
SH
Park
Department of Ophthalmology, Konyang University Hospital, College of Medicine, Konyang University, Daejeon, South Korea.
Hae Ri
HR
Yum
Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Science, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.
Seonjoo
S
Kim
Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Science, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Uijeongbu, South Korea.
Young Chun
YC
Lee
D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors