Erythropoietin serum levels, versus anaemia as risk factors for severe retinopathy of prematurity.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Preterm infants with anaemia are treated with recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO). It is debated whether rhEPO treatment is a risk factor for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). We evaluated longitudinal EPO and haemoglobin levels, blood transfusions and neonatal morbidities as risk factors for severe ROP.

Method

This prospective study included 78 Swedish infants, born <28 weeks gestational age (GA), screened for ROP. We tested serum EPO levels on postnatal days 1, 7, 14 and 28 and at postmenstrual ages 32, 36 and 40 weeks. Haemoglobin levels and blood transfusions were recorded during postnatal weeks 1-4. Anaemia was defined as haemoglobin ≤110 g/L.

Results

During postnatal week 1, infants with severe ROP requiring treatment (28%) more frequently develo

SUBMITTER: Lundgren P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6422731 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature