Perinatology.  2017 Dec;28(4):127-133. 10.14734/PN.2017.28.4.127.

The Relationship between Hyperglycemia and Retinopathy of Prematurity in Very Low Birth Weight Infants

• Kim SK
• An JW
• Lee SH
• Oh YK

• KMID: 2409119
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14734/PN.2017.28.4.127

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
We aimed to investigate if hyperglycemia is a risk factor of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.
METHODS
One hundred forty-seven VLBW infants during the years 2011 through 2015 were included in this retrospective study. Glucose levels were analyzed with whole blood for three weeks after birth. Hyperglycemia was defined as the blood glucose level over 125 mg/dL. ROP patients were compared with non-ROP patients. Variables significantly related to ROP including glycemic characteristics were evaluated in a multivariate analysis.
RESULTS
ROP occurrence was associated with perinatal factors like birth weight (BW), gestational age, 5-minute Apgar score and premature rupture of membranes. It was also significantly related to neonatal factors like respiratory distress, surfactant use, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, congenital heart disease, transfusion, surgical operation, apnea, aminophylline or caffeine use, ventilator days, and admission days. In glycemic characteristics, hyperglycemia duration, average and maximum glucose level for 3 weeks after birth showed statistical significance. But, in a multivariate analysis, only BW and surfactant use were independently associated with ROP, while glycemic characteristics were not. In comparisons based on ROP severity, hyperglycemia duration, average blood glucose level of 3rd week after birth, and insulin use showed significant difference, but they were not independent factors.
CONCLUSION
In this study, hyperglycemia duration, average and maximum blood glucose level during three weeks after birth were statistically significant, but they were not independent factors associated with ROP development.

Keyword

Hyperglycemia; Retinopathy of prematurity; Infant; Very low birth weight

MeSH Terms

Aminophylline
Apgar Score
Apnea
Birth Weight
Blood Glucose
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Caffeine
Gestational Age
Glucose
Heart Defects, Congenital
Humans
Hyperglycemia*
Infant*
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Very Low Birth Weight*
Insulin
Membranes
Multivariate Analysis
Parturition
Retinopathy of Prematurity*
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Rupture
Ventilators, Mechanical
Aminophylline
Blood Glucose
Caffeine
Glucose
Insulin

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