Abstract
Purpose :
To evaluate the association between degree, timing, and duration of thrombocytopenia and severe ROP.
Methods :
The G-ROP Study is a retrospective data collection study conducted in 30 North-American hospitals between 2006 and 2012. The primary objective was to evaluate postnatal weight gain and its asociation with ROP. This secondary analysis using multivariable regression evaluated the relationship between thrombocytopenia and type 1/2 ROP, controlling for birth-weight, gestational age, necrotizing enterocolitis and sepsis. Mean platelet levels and the proportions of infants with thrombocytopenia (using 3 threshold levels of: ≤150,000, ≤100,000, ≤50,000/mcl) were compared. The onset and duration of thrombocytopenia were also evaluated.
Results :
Of 7,238 infants studied, 917(12.7%) developed severe ROP. Mean platelets were significantly lower and proportion of infants with thrombocytopenia at each level (≤ 150k/≤100k/≤50k) were significantly higher in those with severe ROP during each PMA-week 25-40. The proportions of infants with/without severe ROP with thrombocytopenia by 34 weeks PMA were 72%/34% (≤150k), 46%/15% (≤100k), 14%/3% (≤50k)(all p<0.0001). Corresponding aORs(95% CI), were 1.63(1.36-1.96),1.62(1.33-1.96) and 1.68(1.14-2.48). 86% of infants who had platelets of ≤50K by PMA-week 27 developed severe ROP (aOR 4.97). Increasing thrombocytopenia duration during PMA-weeks 29-34 was associated with increasing aOR(1.5-3), but even 1-week duration was associated with increased risk, especially for the ≤50k threshold.
Conclusions :
Low serum platelet levels increase the risk of severe ROP. Further study of these associations and the potential of platelet transfusions as a preventive intervention to reduce ROP risk are warranted.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.