Retinopathy of prematurity: inflammation, choroidal degeneration, and novel promising therapeutic strategies.

ABSTRACT: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is an important cause of childhood blindness globally, and the incidence is rising. The disease is characterized by initial arrested retinal vascularization followed by neovascularization and ensuing retinal detachment causing permanent visual loss. Although neovascularization can be effectively treated via retinal laser ablation, it is unknown which children are at risk of entering this vision-threatening phase of the disease. Laser ablation may itself induce visual field deficits, and there is therefore a need to identify targets for novel and less destructive treatments of ROP. Inflammation is considered a key contributor to the pathogenesis of ROP. A large proportion of preterm infants with ROP will have residual visual loss linked to loss of photorecep

SUBMITTER: Rivera JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5567917 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature