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.