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Effects of maternal and placental inflammation on retinopathy of prematurity

  • Pediatrics
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

To identify maternal and placental risk factors for the occurrence and progression of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study. The study cohort consisted of 246 infants with gestational age ≤32 weeks, with histologic examinations of their placentas. Medical records of eligible preterm infants were retrospectively reviewed. A regression model was constructed with control for known or potential factors associated with ROP. Occurrences of ROP, severe ROP (≥stage 3), and clinically significant ROP requiring laser treatment were assessed.

Results

ROP was diagnosed in 82 of 246 infants (33.3%), including 49 with mild ROP and 33 with severe ROP. Laser treatment was performed on 27 infants (11%: 27/246). Multivariate regression analysis indicated clinical chorioamnionitis and elevated maternal WBC count on admission to be associated with ROP occurrence [odds ratio (OR) = 4.370, P = 0.046; and OR = 1.104 per 1,000 cells/mm3 incremental increase, P = 0.019, respectively], while the use of tocolytics was associated with reduced occurrence of ROP (OR = 0.278, P = 0.006). Elevated maternal WBC count on admission was also independently associated with ROP progression requiring laser treatment (OR = 1.171 per 1,000 cells/mm3 incremental increase, P = 0.026). However, neither histologic chorioamnionitis nor funisitis was associated with the occurrence or progression of ROP.

Conclusions

Clinical chorioamnionitis and elevated maternal WBC count, but not histologic chorioamnionitis, were significantly and independently associated with ROP. These findings support the hypothesis that maternal systemic inflammation may play a role in the pathogenesis of ROP.

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Conflict of interest

No conflicting relationship exists for any author.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea

    Se Joon Woo, Jeeyun Ahn & Kyu Hyung Park

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, 300 Gumi-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 463–707, Korea

    Kyo Hoon Park, Hee Jung Jung & Shi nae Kim

  3. Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea

    Gheeyoung Choe

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  1. Se Joon Woo
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  2. Kyo Hoon Park
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  3. Hee Jung Jung
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kyo Hoon Park.

Additional information

This study was supported by grant no. 02-2009-019 from the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Republic of Korea.

The sponsor or funding organization had no role in the design or conduct of this research.

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Woo, S.J., Park, K.H., Jung, H.J. et al. Effects of maternal and placental inflammation on retinopathy of prematurity. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 250, 915–923 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-011-1648-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-011-1648-2

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