Incidence of retinopathy of prematurity treatment in extremely preterm infants in China

Effect and factors associated with reactivation after intravitreal conbercept or aflibercept in retinopathy of prematurity

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the effect and factors associated with the reactivation of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) after intravitreal conbercept or aflibercept.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 176 eyes diagnosed with ROP and treated with anti-VEGF therapy between January 2018 and September 2022. The rate of reactivation and complications were assessed during the follow-up period. The factors of reactivation of ROP after intravitreal conbercept or aflibercept were analyzed on the basis of clinical factors and retinal parameters.

RESULTS

Reactivation of ROP occurred in 10 eyes (13.9%) after intravitreal conbercept and 13 eyes (12.5%) after intravitreal aflibercept (P = 0.79). The interval between injection and reactivation was significantly longer in the aflibercept group than in the conbercept group (15.50 ± 4.05 vs. 5.36 ± 0.50 weeks) (P < 0.001). The central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE) of aggressive ROP was larger than that of type 1 prethreshold and threshold ROP before anti-VEGF therapy (P < 0.05). Zone I and stage 3 exhibited a positive correlation with the reactivation of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) [odds ratio (OR) = 20.15, 5.02]. The changes in CRAE of pre-and post-therapy and gestational age were identified as potential protective factors for these outcomes (OR = 0.23, 0.49).

CONCLUSIONS

Conbercept and aflibercept are effective for treating ROP. Aflibercept resulted in longer treatment intervals compared to conbercept. Zone, stage, and gestational age were associated with the reactivation of ROP. CRAE was associated with not only the severity of ROP but also its reactivation. Additionally, it may be an objective indicator in the early indication and follow-up of ROP.

The relationship between inflammatory markers and retinopathy of prematurity in extremely premature infants

PURPOSE

This study aimed to evaluate the relationships among blood parameters, clinical factors, and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in extremely premature (EP) infants.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 153 EP infants who were categorized into two groups based on the presence of inflammatory diseases such as necrotizing enterocolitis, neonatal sepsis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, severe intraventricular hemorrhage, preeclampsia, and premature rupture of membranes. Complete blood count parameters, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-monocyte ratio, platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic inflammatory index, and platelet mass index were recorded during the first week and first month after birth. The study analyzed the impact of parameters obtained through blood tests during the first week and first month on the development of ROP and the requirement for treatment.

RESULTS

In this study, 96 infants were diagnosed with inflammatory diseases. After multivariate regression analyses, the duration of mechanical ventilation (p = 0.010) was found to be the only factor that led to ROP development. Moreover, lower gestational age (GA) (p = 0.006), higher NLR (p = 0.026), and lower PLR (p = 0.019) were observed in infants requiring treatment compared to infants with spontaneous resolution of ROP in this group. 57 infants did not have inflammatory diseases. Although the duration of mechanical ventilation (p = 0.041) and low levels of platelets (PLT) (p = 0.046) measured in the first month postnatally were significantly found to be associated with ROP developement, no parameter affecting the required treatment could be determined.

CONCLUSION

EP infants with longer mechanical ventilation durations and lower PLT counts are vulnerable to ROP development. GA, PLR, and NLR are predictive factors for treatment.

Efficacy and Safety of Aflibercept and Ranibizumab in the Treatment of Retinopathy of Prematurity

PURPOSE

To compare the efficacy, recurrence rate, and recurrence interval of intravitreal injection of aflibercept (IVA) and ranibizumab (IVR) in patients with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

METHODS

This is a single-center retrospective study of neonates hospitalized from January 2018 to March 2023 in the Department of Neonatology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University who received intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor owing to type 1 prethreshold ROP, threshold ROP, or aggressive posterior ROP. Clinical data were collected to record the cure, recurrence, number of injections, and side effects of ROP.

FINDINGS

A total of 224 neonates (444 eyes) were enrolled in this study, of which 121 (241 eyes) received IVA and 103 (203 eyes) received IVR. There were no significant differences in the general characteristics of infants between the two groups (P > 0.05). The corrected gestational age of the first injection was 37.27 ± 3.07 weeks in the IVA group and 37.20 ± 4.89 weeks in the IVR group (P = 0.582). The recurrence rate was 15.8% in the IVA group and 14.9% in the IVR group (P = 0.841). For relapsed infants, the postmenstrual age (PMA) was 34.89 ± 3.49 weeks in the IVA group and 35.28 ± 4.43 weeks in the IVR group at the first treatment. The PMA was 43.69 ± 4.57 and 40.96 ± 4.98 weeks at the second treatment in the IVA and IVR groups, respectively (P = 0.185). There were two children in the IVA group that required a third treatment, with PMAs of 58.71 and 57.29 weeks at the time of surgery, and one child in the IVR group, with a PMA of 43.14 weeks at the time of injection (P = 0.221). No complications were recorded in either group.

IMPLICATIONS

The efficacies of aflibercept and ranibizumab in treating ROP are similar, and the safety of the medications was good. Further research should be conducted in large-scale, prospective clinical trials, providing ophthalmologists with new options for the treatment of ROP.

Red Blood Cell Transfusion for Incidence of Retinopathy of Prematurity: Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study

Background

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of visual impairment and blindness in preterm infants.

Objective

This study sought to investigate the association between red blood cell (RBC) transfusion and ROP in very preterm infants (VPIs) to inform clinical strategies for ROP prevention and treatment.

Methods

We designed a prospective multicenter cohort study that included VPIs and follow-up data from January 2017 to December 2022 at 3 neonatal clinical medicine centers. They were categorized into a transfusion group (infants who received an RBC transfusion within 4 wk) and a nontransfusion group. The relationship between RBC transfusion and ROP incidence was assessed using binary logistic regression, with subgroup analyses based on gestational age, birth weight, sex, and sepsis status. Inverse probability of treatment weighting and propensity score matching were applied to account for all potential confounding factors that could affect ROP development, followed by sensitivity analysis.

Results

The study included 832 VPIs, including 327 in the nontransfusion group and 505 in the transfusion group. The transfusion group had a lower average birth weight and gestational age and a greater incidence of ROP, ≥stage 2 ROP, and severe ROP. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the transfusion group had a significantly greater risk of ROP (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.70, 95% CI 1.14-2.53, P=.009) and ≥stage 2 ROP (aOR 1.68, 95% CI 1.02-2.78, P=.04) but not severe ROP (aOR 1.75, 95% CI 0.61-5.02, P=.30). The trend analysis also revealed an increased risk of ROP with an increasing number of transfusions and a larger volume of blood transfused (P for trend<.001). Subgroup analyses confirmed a consistent trend, with the transfusion group at a higher risk for ROP across all subgroups. Inverse probability of treatment weighting and propensity score matching analyses supported the initial findings.

Conclusions

For VPIs, RBC transfusion significantly increases the risk of ROP, and the risk increases with an increasing number of transfusions and volume of blood transfused.

IL1R2 promotes retinal angiogenesis to participate in retinopathy of prematurity by activating the HIF1α/PFKFB3 pathway

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is the leading cause of blindness in children, but there is no safe and effective treatment available. Interleukin-1 receptor type 2 (IL1R2) acts as a decoy receptor for IL-1 may affect ROP progression. This study aimed to investigate the role of IL1R2 in ROP. A microglial cell model was established under hypoxia conditions and co-cultured with choroidal endothelial cells, while an oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) model was also established. Microglial activation and IL1R2 levels in retinal tissues were analyzed using immunofluorescence assay. Endothelial cell migration was evaluated by Transwell assay and scratch test, angiogenesis was assessed using ELISA and tube formation assay, and proliferation was evaluated by EdU assay. The HIF1α/PFKFB3 pathway was analyzed by western blot. We observed that IL1R2 expression was predicted to be upregulated in ROP and was increased in hypoxia-treated BV2 cells. Additionally, IL1R2 levels were upregulated in the retinal tissues of OIR mice and correlated with microglial activation. In vitro experiments, we found that hypoxia promoted endothelial cell migration, angiogenesis, proliferation, and activated the HIF1α/PFKFB3 pathway, which were rescued by IL1R2 knockdown. Moreover, NHWD-870 (a HIF1α/PFKFB3 pathway inhibitor) suppressed endothelial cell migration, angiogenesis, and proliferation induced by IL1R2 overexpression. In conclusion, IL1R2 facilitates the migration, angiogenesis, and proliferation of choroidal endothelial cells by activating the HIF1α/PFKFB3 pathway to regulate ROP progression.

Global Prevalence and Severity of Retinopathy of Prematurity over the Last Four Decades (1985-2021): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a vasoproliferative disease of the retina that occurs in premature infants. The prevalence of ROP reported so far is inconsistent.

AIM

To conduct a systematic review to describe the trend of ROP prevalence between 1985 and 2021, and to determine the influence of countries' economic conditions on ROP prevalence.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar for studies published between January 1985 and December 2021 using the following MeSH terms: "retinopathy of prematurity", "ROP", "incidence", and "prevalence". Two independent reviewers examined the articles to select studies that met the selection criteria and performed data extraction and study quality assessment. For the meta-analysis, the pooled prevalence was calculated using a random-effects model and R software.

RESULTS

Of 5,250 titles and abstracts, 139 original studies met the inclusion criteria; a total of 121,618 premature infants were included in these studies. The pooled prevalence of ROP was 31.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 29.0-34.8) and that of severe ROP was 7.5% (6.5-8.7). In general, no significant differences in prevalence were found over the four decades; however, we found a higher prevalence in premature infants ≤28 weeks of gestational age. In addition, the highest ROP prevalence was found in lower-middle-income countries with high mortality rates. In contrast, the highest severe ROP prevalence was found in high-income countries.

CONCLUSION

ROP remains a common cause of morbidity in premature infants worldwide. Therefore, it seems necessary to maintain early identification strategies for patients at higher risk, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

Incidence and Risk Factors for Retinopathy of Prematurity in a Tertiary Hospital in China

Purpose

To investigate the incidence and risk factors for the retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, China.

Methods

This retrospective case-control study included 611 preterm infants with birth weight (BW)<1500 grams admitted to the Department of Neonatology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University between January 2019 and December 2022. The incidence and risk factors for any stage and severe ROP were analyzed.

Results

Within 611 infants, 245(40.1%) developed ROP; 160(26.2%) infants were stage 1, 54(8.8%) were stage 2, and 31(5.1%) were stage 3, no stage 4 and 5. Among them, 22(3.6%) infants needed treatment. Multivariate analysis showed a higher gestational age (GA) was protective, whereas twin birth and moderate-to-severe BPD increased the hazard of any stage ROP; higher BW and male gender were significant risk factors for severe ROP.

Conclusion

Compared to other tertiary hospitals, the incidence of any stage ROP in our NICU was higher, but the rate of ROP needed treatment was lower. A higher GA was protective, whereas twin birth and moderate-to-severe BPD increased the hazard of any stage ROP; higher BW was protective, whereas male gender were risk factors for the development of severe ROP.

Systemic Cytokines in Retinopathy of Prematurity

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a vasoproliferative vitreoretinal disorder, is the leading cause of childhood blindness worldwide. Although angiogenic pathways have been the main focus, cytokine-mediated inflammation is also involved in ROP etiology. Herein, we illustrate the characteristics and actions of all cytokines involved in ROP pathogenesis. The two-phase (vaso-obliteration followed by vasoproliferation) theory outlines the evaluation of cytokines in a time-dependent manner. Levels of cytokines may even differ between the blood and the vitreous. Data from animal models of oxygen-induced retinopathy are also valuable. Although conventional cryotherapy and laser photocoagulation are well established and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents are available, less destructive novel therapeutics that can precisely target the signaling pathways are required. Linking the cytokines involved in ROP to other maternal and neonatal diseases and conditions provides insights into the management of ROP. Suppressing disordered retinal angiogenesis via the modulation of hypoxia-inducible factor, supplementation of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1/IGF-binding protein 3 complex, erythropoietin, and its derivatives, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and inhibition of secretogranin III have attracted the attention of researchers. Recently, gut microbiota modulation, non-coding RNAs, and gene therapies have shown promise in regulating ROP. These emerging therapeutics can be used to treat preterm infants with ROP.

Long use of continuous positive airway pressure protects against the development of treatment-requiring retinopathy of prematurity

Although preterm infant mortality is low, the proportion of patients with treatment-requiring retinopathy of prematurity (TR-ROP) is high in Japan. Various multicenter studies have reported the risk factors for TR-ROP; however, no large-scale studies have been conducted in Japan. We retrospectively analyzed 13,645 infants born at < 28 weeks’ gestation (January 1, 2009–December 31, 2018), and registered in the Neonatal Research Network of Japan database. TR-ROP was defined as ROP requiring retinal laser photocoagulation and/or intravitreal anti-vasoendothelial growth factor drugs. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with TR-ROP development. The median gestational age of enrolled infants was 26 weeks (interquartile range [IQR], 24–27 weeks), median birth weight was 760 g (IQR, 620–918 g). Proportion of patients with TR-ROP was 30.3%. TR-ROP was significantly associated with birth at < 26 weeks’ gestational age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.54), blood transfusion (aOR 1.49), invasive ventilation ≥ 28 days (aOR 1.41), sepsis (aOR 1.29), birth weight < 750 g (aOR 1.28), intraventricular hemorrhage (aOR 1.33), delayed achievement of full enteral feeding > 14 days (aOR 1.28), and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy ≥ 28 days (aOR 0.79). Supplemental oxygen ≥ 28 days was not associated with TR-ROP development. Lower gestational age at birth and birth weight, blood transfusion, prolonged invasive ventilation, sepsis, intraventricular hemorrhage, and delayed achievement of full enteral feeding were risk factors for TR-ROP, whereas CPAP use was protective against TR-ROP.