Abstract
Purpose :
We sought to evaluate a commonly suggested association between necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Suppression of serum IGF-1 level by NEC is a hypothetical mechanism connecting NEC and ROP.
Methods :
Secondary analysis of G-ROP-1 data, a retrospective study at 29 North-American hospitals between 2006-2012. Multivariable analysis was used to analyze the associations between surgical NEC and the development of ROP or Type 1 or Type 2 ROP, adjusting for birth weight (BW), gestational age at birth, small-for-gestational-age (BW<10%ile), chronic lung disease, hydrocephalus, intraventricular hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, and patent ductus arteriosus. Timing of NEC was considered 'early' (8-28 days) or 'late' (>28 days). Presumed spontaneous intestinal perforations during postnatal life week one were excluded.
Results :
Of 7,483 infants, 356 (4.8%) developed surgical NEC, 200 (2.7%) developed early NEC. 283 (79%) of infants with NEC had ROP; 140 (39%) had Type 1/2 ROP. NEC was independently associated with ROP (aOR 2.7, 95% CI 1.9-3.7) and Type 1/2 ROP (aOR 2.5, 1.9-3.3). Early NEC appeared more strongly associated with ROP (aOR 3.1, 2.1-4.8) and Type 1/2 ROP (aOR 3.3, 2.3-4.7) than late NEC (aOR 2.1, 1.3-3.4);(aOR 1.9, 1.3-2.8). Median postmenstrual ages of onset of ROP and Type 1/2 ROP did not differ significantly among infants with no, early, or late NEC.
Conclusions :
Surgical NEC, especially when occurring earlier in postnatal life, increases the risk of ROP and Type 1/2 ROP but does not alter the time course of ROP
This is a 2020 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.