Abstract

GARCIA FERNANDEZ, Yanet; FERNANDEZ RAGI, Rosa María; RODRIGUEZ RIVERO, Mayling  and  PEREZ MORENO, Ernesto. Incidence of retinopathy of prematurity. Rev Cubana Pediatr [online]. 2007, vol.79, n.2. ISSN 0034-7531.

A prospective study of 66 newborns with less than 35 weeks of gestational age and below 1 750g birthweight was conducted. Other cases that required sight testing because of their clinical characteristics and possibility of having retinopathy of prematurity were included. This group of children was the total number of cases for screening in our center from January 2003 to December 2005, which marked the beginning of the program. Sixty six newborns were examined for a retinopathy rate of 24,2%, a figure that was within the parameters recorded by other centers. Males were the most affected whereas sepsis and respiratory distress were the most frequent risk factors. Most of newborns with this disease were ventilated. Gestational age and weight influenced in a reversed manner, the lower the gestational age and weight, the higher the incidence of this pathology. Incidence of 2nd degree or over retinopathy of prematurity was very low and surgical treatment was barely required. The study showed that it is necessary to continue working with the most vulnerable groups in relation to this disease.

Keywords : retinopathy of prematurity.

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