Retinopathy of prematurity in premature infants with severe Rhesus Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn

Abstract

Objective: To examine the rate of retinopathy of prematurity in infants with severe Rhesus Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn (Rh HDN).

Study design: This is a case-control study that involved 33 premature infants with severe Rh HDN were compared to another 33 premature infants without the disease. All infants underwent routine eye examinations by a senior ophthalmologist. Data collected from the records of all patients included demographic data and complications of prematurity.

Results: Ten and 2 infants were diagnosed to have retinopathy of prematurity in the severe Rh HDN and the control groups, respectively, with a statistically significant difference (P = 0.0108). There were no statistically significant differences between patients and their controls in terms of birth weight, gestational age, sex, duration of oxygen therapy, and neonatal complications. A comparison between all infants with ROP and those without ROP showed that there were statistically significant differences in gestational age equal or less than 27 weeks' gestation, presence of patent ductus arteriosus, respiratory distress disease, duration of oxygen therapy and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Another comparison was performed between infants with retinopathy of prematurity and those without ROP in the severe Rh HDN group showed that the number of intrauterine transfusions was more among infants who developed ROP (P = 0.002). In addition there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in respect to exchange and simple transfusions.

Conclusion: Premature infants with severe Rh HDN were found to be at risk of developing retinopathy of prematurity more than infants without the disease.