THE APPARENT ROLE OF BLOOD-TRANSFUSIONS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY

During a 30-month-period, 184 very low birth weight infants from two L iverpool neonatal intensive care units were screened for evidence of r etinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Seventeen clinical variables previous ly considered relevant to the development of ROP, blood gas and blood pressure data over the first 7 days, and the maximum stage of ROP reac hed in either eye were recorded, together with the need for cryotherap y and current visual status. Ninety-two infants developed any stage of ROP and 15 required cryotherapy or became blind. Logistic regression showed that only gestational age and frequency of blood transfusion we re independently associated both with the risk of occurrence of ROP an d its severity.