Retinopathy of Prematurity in Extremely Low Birthweight Infants

摘要

Hyperoxia is still believed to be the main cause of retmopathy of prematurity, and it has been claimed that vitamin E. because of its antioxidant effect, reduces the severity of the disorder when administered in large doses. The present authors report the results of a study of ocular morbidity in 108 infants of extremely low birth weight (less than 1000 gm). all of whom received only small doses of vitamin E for maintenance of their hemotological status. The arterial oxgyen tensions were kept, when possible. below 80 mm Hg. The authors have followed the recent trend in using the term ldquo;retinopathy of prematurityrdquo; to replace the term developing or acute retrolental fibropla-sia.ldquo; The term rdquo;retrolental fibroplasialdquo; now replaces the term cicatricial retrolental fibroplasia.rdquo;The various degrees of retrolental fibroplasia severity were: grade 1. mild peripheral changes; grade 2. slight dragging of temporal vessels, heterotopia of macula, per-etmal fibrosis. and myopia: grade 3. dragged disc with