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Characteristics of posterior zone I retinopathy of prematurity

Abstract

Objective

To report the demographic profile and clinical characteristics of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in posterior Zone I.

Methods

In a partly retrospective (ten years) and partly prospective (one year) study, we analysed the demographic profile and clinical characteristics of babies with ROP in posterior Zone I.

Results

The study included 130 eyes of 67 infants with a mean gestational age and birth weight of 29.3 (±2.2) weeks and 1217.3 (±381.9) grams, respectively. All babies had received unblended oxygen. In 47 of 51 (91.1%) babies, the weekly weight gain was <100 g (details were not available in 16 babies). The ROP subtypes included aggressive, threshold, hybrid, stage 4, and atypical types in 78 (60%), 20 (15.4%), 11 (8.5%), 15 (11.5%), and 6 (4.6%) eyes, respectively. Fibrovascular proliferation, when present, was prominent nasally, occasionally overriding the disc margin. Extensive arteriovenous tortuosity was more prominent than vascular dilatation. Atypical observations included bleb-like detachment (6 eyes; 4.6%) and candle wax-like preretinal deposits (23 eyes; 17.7%).

Conclusions

Retinopathy of Prematurity in posterior Zone I in this cohort was strongly associated with 100% unblended oxygen supplementation, poor weight gain, and multiple systemic co-morbidities. ROP in posterior zone 1 has a distinct profile with several atypical characteristics different from ROP in other zones.

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Fig. 1: Composite Fundus picture of eyes with major subtypes of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) imaged with RetCam shuttle (Clarity Medical Systems, Inc. CA, USA).
Fig. 2: Composite image depicting few atypical observations in eyes with posterior Zone I ROP.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge Mr. Abhinav Sekar for his help in editing and language check in the manuscript.

Funding

Hyderabad Eye Research Foundation, Hyderabad, India. Though not directly related to this project, the institute’s ROP program as a whole has been supported by the Miriam Hyman Memorial Trust, London; Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, London; Public Health Foundation of India, Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram, India; Dalmia Holdings, New Delhi; and Cognizant Foundation at different point of time.

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Authors

Contributions

TRP: Concept, data acquisition, analysis, Interpretation, preparation of the draft. Critical revision, final approval, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work. MS: Data acquisition, analysis, preparation of the draft, critical revision, final approval, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work. SUS: Data acquisition, preparation of the draft, critical revision, final approval, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work. TD: Data analysis, Critical revision, final approval. UTB: Data acquisition, preparation of the draft, final approval, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work. AS: Data acquisition, preparation of the draft, critical revision, final approval, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work. SBN: Data acquisition, preparation of the draft, critical revision, final approval, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work. SN: Data acquisition, critical revision, final approval, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work. SAN: Concept and design, analysis, interpretation, preparation of the draft, critical revision, final approval, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work. BVP: Concept and design, analysis, preparation of the draft, critical revision, final approval, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work. KA: Concept and design, analysis, interpretation of the draft, critical revision, final approval, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work. BKS: Data collection, interpretation, preparation of the draft, critical revision, final approval, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work. SD: Data collection, interpretation, preparation of the draft, critical revision, final approval, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work. KSR: Data collection, interpretation, preparation of the draft, critical revision, final approval, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work. LP: Data collection, interpretation, preparation of the draft, critical revision, final approval, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work. SJ: Concept, design, analysis, interpretation, preparation of the draft, critical revision, final approval, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

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Correspondence to Tapas R. Padhi.

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Padhi, T.R., Shah, M., Sahoo, S. et al. Characteristics of posterior zone I retinopathy of prematurity. Eye 37, 3776–3780 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-023-02603-y

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