Relationship between Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) and Broncho-Pulmonary Dysplasia (BPD): A Retrospective-Analytical Study

Abstract

Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) share the common risk factors of perinatal inflammation and oxidative stress exposure. Moreover, both diseases have a genetic background. Aim of work: is to explore the ROP prevalence and severity among preterm infants diagnosed with BPD and to identify and examine the shared risk factors. Patients and methods:This was a retrospective case-control study consisting of 44 preterm infants with BPD and 62 gestational age-matched controls. Infants' birth and postnatal medical records were revised. Results:BPD and ROP corresponded with the duration of administration of CPAP, oxygen blender, head box, incubator oxygen, mechanical ventilation, duration of admission, oxygenation, caffeine citrate, TPN, administration and duration of inhaled steroids, inotropic support, surfactant administration, PDA, ICH, PRBCs and plasma transfusion, LOS and infectious episodes. Severe cases of ROP occurred in BPD cases, and this connection extended to varying grades in both diseases. The use of inotropic support was the most predisposing factor to BPD. By contrast, utilizing mechanical ventilation was the most predisposing factor to ROP. Conclusions: BPD and ROP share common risk factors, and there is a connection between them in regard to the varying grades of severity. Though, hemodynamic instability, longer inotropic support, hemodynamically significant PDA, prolonged mechanical ventilation act as cofactors.

Delineating morbidity patterns in preterm infants at near-term age using a data-driven approach

“…Although suggested by previous studies [12,14,20,40], correlations between (cardio)vascular complications such as PH, mild cardiac defects or ROP with perinatal brain pathology were not observed in either cohort.…”

“…While within the range of weak correlation, they provide indication of association between BPD and ROP (Table 2), further supported when analyzing BPD severity groups (Table 3). The significant increase in risk for developing severe ROP in the presence of severe (AIRR, NEuroSIS) or even mild or moderate BPD (NEuroSIS) can be explained by shared pathophysiologic hallmarks between both diseases with dysfunctional angiogenic signaling and vessel formation [40,41], presence of shared inflammatory processes and genetic risk factors [42]. The interrelation highlights the need to consider both complications when designing future treatment and follow-up strategies [20][21][22].…”

Latest Trends in Retinopathy of Prematurity: Research on Risk Factors, Diagnostic Methods and Therapies

“…35 There are many ways in which oxygen can be administered, but the duration of mechanical ventilation is a much more important risk factor for the development of ROP as compared to the total duration of oxygen therapy. 36 In January 2023, Tiffany et al published a study that stratified the risk according to the gestational age, dividing preterm infants into three categories. For the second category, namely premature babies with GA between 24 and 26 weeks, the administration of corticosteroids for bronchopulmonary dysplasia represented an important risk factor for the development of severe forms of ROP.…”