RISK-FACTORS IN RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURIT Y

In 29 infants with retinopathy of prematurity we retrospectively studi ed the influence of various clinical factors on the severety of the di sease and compared this group of patients with controls without retino pathy. Infants presenting with different stages of retinopathy showed significant differences in gestational age, length of mechanical venti lation, additional supplemental oxygen, and the number of episodes of acidosis and hypocarbia. Compared with controls, hyperoxemia with p(a) O2-levels above 100 mmHg and hypocarbia with pCO2-levels below 35 mmHg was more often observed in infants with retinopathy (p<0.05, respecti vely p<0.01). Besides, these infants were more often treated with surg ical ligation of a patent ductus arteriosus than with indomethacin (p< 0.001). In our patients we were not able to asses the incidence and th e severity of retinopathy of prematurity by calculation of risk scores or safety indices.