RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY IN MULTIPLE-GESTATION, VERY-LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT INFANTS

Ninety-nine infants from multiple gestation births and weighing less t han or equal to 1500 g at birth were matched with infants from single births to clarify the relationship of multiple gestation to retinopath y of prematurity (ROP). There was no significant difference in the inc idence of ROP between the twins and the singletons (relative risk [RR] = 0.84, 95% confidence intervals [Cl] = 0.61, 1.16). Logistic regress ion analysis confirmed that very low birth weight (VLBW), not single o r multiple gestation, was the most significant predictor of ROP occurr ence in either group. In 27 pairs of twin siblings from the original t win group, where both weighed less than or equal to 1500 g at birth, w e found that the second-born twin seemed at higher risk for developing ROP, but logistic regression showed that the lower birth weight of th e second twin, not birth order, was the more significant predictor of ROP. These results indicate that ROP screening in VLBW twins may be co nducted according to the same standard protocols as for singletons.