Abstract 1128 Poster Session IV, Tuesday, 5/4 (poster 256)

Aim of the study. To evaluate the role of packed red cell (PRC) transfusion, iron supplementation and erythropoietin (EPO) treatment as risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Methods. Forty-five preterm infants, whose birthweight was < 1250 grams, were studied. They were divided in group A (n=24), that included newborns without ROP, and group B (n=21), that included newborns with ROP. For each group, we reported birthweight, gestational age, data regarding antenatal and postnatal dexamethasone treatment, oxygen-therapy duration, age at beginning of iron supplementation and EPO treatment, and blood transfusion volume (ml/kg transfused during the 1st week, the first month and the first 2 months of life). Results. Clinical characteristics of the study groups were similar. The amount of iron given to the infants during the hospital stay was not different in group A in comparison with group B (315 vs. 305 mg/kg). EPO treatment was performed in 10 (42%) patients of group A and in 18 (86%) patients of group B (p<0.005). The volume of PRC transfused during the 1st week of life (0.9±4.3 vs. 13.7±18.0 ml/kg; p<0.005) and during the first 2 months of life (49.8±28.4 vs. 83.8±47.7; p<0.01) was significantly lower in group A than in group B. However, logistic regression analysis demonstrated that only 1) gestational age (OR 0.60; 95% C.I. 0.40-0.90), 2) transfusion volume during the 1st week of life (OR 0.60; 95% C.I. 0.40-0.90), and 3) transfusion volume during the first month of life ( OR 0.94; 95% C.I. 0.88-0.99) were independently associated with an increased risk of ROP. Conclusion. Our study confirmed the relationship between gestational age and PRC transfusion and the development of ROP in preterm infants. Due to the mechanism by which PRC transfusion could favour the onset of ROP (iron load, oxidative injuries), some concerns could raise regarding the need to treat transfused preterm infants with further amount of oral or parenteral iron.