J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2004 Feb;45(2):259-265.

Incidence and Risk Factors of Retinopathy of Prematurity in Premature Twins

• Oh JY
• Kim SJ
• Yu YS
• Choi JH

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in premature twins, to determine clinical factors associated with ROP development and to analyze differences in severity of retinopathy of prematurity among siblings of multiple-gestation pregnancies. METHODS: We reviewed the records of 154 neonates of premature twins screened for ROP at one neonatal intensive care unit from January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2002. First, we assessed the frequency of ROP and then, we compared clinical factors between ROP and non-ROP groups. Third, we separated the infants into concordant and discordant ROP groups with discordant group defined as siblings with an intersibling difference of at least two stages of ROP between both siblings with ROP and siblings of one with ROP, another without ROP. Between siblings with discordant ROP, multiple clinical factors were compared. RESULTS: ROP was present in 43.5% of premature twins. Clinical factors significantly related to ROP occurrence were birth weight, duration of mechanical ventilation and duration of oxygen exposure (p<0.05). ROP developed more in groups with hypercarbia, patent ductus arteriosus, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. Among the premature twins, 22.1% had discordant ROP. For those infants with discordant disease, only birth weight was related to occurrence or severity of ROP (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in incidence and risk factors of ROP between infants of single-gestation pregnancies and those of multiple-gestation pregnancies. Of clinical factors investigated, only birth weight was significantly related to intersibling difference of incidence or severity of ROP in premature twins.

Keyword

Discordant ROP; Multiple-gestation pregnancies; Retinopathy of prematurity; ROP; Twins

MeSH Terms

Birth Weight
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Ductus Arteriosus, Patent
Humans
Incidence*
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Intensive Care, Neonatal
Oxygen
Pregnancy
Respiration, Artificial
Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn
Retinopathy of Prematurity*
Risk Factors*
Siblings
Twins*
Oxygen