RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY IN DISCORDANT TWINS

Discordant twins may be at increased risk for retinopathy of prematuri ty (ROP) because of factors related to their unequal growth. Discordan cy is defined as a difference of 15% or more in the birth weights of t he two infants. We examined the data in 26 sets of discordant twins fr om six NICUs, including birthweight, gestational age, sex, and highest grade of ROP. Thirty-eight percent (10) of the lower birthweight infa nts had higher grades of ROP than their twin. Twenty-three percent (6) of the heavier birthweight twins had higher grades of ROP than their smaller siblings. Three infants reached threshold, and five were preth reshold. In every case, their twin siblings had mild or no ROP. Thirty -eight percent of the twins (10) had the same ROP outcome.