RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY AND SURFACTANT TREATMENT

Purpose: Surfactant therapy in premature infants has reduced the sever ity of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), thus leading to a reductio n in mortality. However, the anticipated effect of surfactant therapy on the incidence and severity of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a mbiguous. The acute rise in Pao(2) and the increased survival of low-b irth-weight infants may augment the risk of ROP, whereas their improve d health and respiratory status may lower it. Methods: We reviewed the findings of sequential ophthalmologic examinations performed in our n eonatal intensive care unit. Premature infants of gestational age unde r 32 weeks and weighing less than 1500 g at birth who received surfact ant treatment were compared with a group of historical controls consis ting of premature infants of the same mean birth weight and gestationa l age who did not get this supplement. Results: ROP was present in 13 (65%) of the 20 surfactant-treated babies, and threshold disease was n oted in six (30%). In the historical control group, 20 (77%) of 25 inf ants had ROP, of whom 10 (40%) were treated for threshold disease. The se differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Surfact ant therapy was not associated with an increased incidence of ROP in o ur series.