RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY IN MULTIPLE-GESTATION PREGNANCIES

PURPOSE: To determine differences in incidence of retinopathy of prema turity between neonates of multiple-gestation and single-gestation pre gnancies and to analyze differences in severity of retinopathy of prem aturity among siblings of multiple gestation pregnancies, METHODS: We reviewed the records of 149 neonates of multiple-gestation pregnancies and 691 single gestation neonates screened for retinopathy of prematu rity at one hospital from January 1, 1992, through December 31, 1995, The peak stage of retinopathy of prematurity was recorded for all infa nts, The multiple gestation infants were then separated into concordan t and discordant retinopathy of prematurity groups, with discordance d efined as a difference of at least 2 stages of retinopathy of prematur ity between siblings, Between siblings with discordant retinopathy of prematurity, multiple factors were compared. RESULTS: Retinopathy of p rematurity was present in 69 (46%) of the multiple gestation neo nates , Retinopathy of prematurity was present in 312 (45%) of single birth neonates. The percent age of multiple-gestation neonates with stages 1 , 2, or 3 (prethreshold) or threshold retinopathy of prematurity was s imilar to that of single-gestation neonates. Stage 4 or 5 retinopathy of prematurity did not occur in either group, CONCLUSIONS: There was n o significant difference in stage of retinopathy of prematurity be twe en infants of single gestation pregnancies vs those of multiple gestat ion pregnancies. The majority (84%) of infants of multiple-gestation p regnancies had concordant retinopathy of prematurity. In those infants with discordant disease, zygosity and postgestational factors other t han lowest serum glucose were not related to severity of retinopathy o f prematurity.