Can Complete Blood Count Parameters Predict Retinopathy of Prematurity?
Journal Title: Turkish Journal of Ophthalmology - Year 2020, Vol 50, Issue 2
Abstract
Objectives: To predict the risk of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) development according to routine complete blood count (CBC) parameters. Materials and Methods: The medical records and CBC results of 150 premature neonates were retrospectively evaluated. As ROP develops 1 month after birth, first month CBC profiles of neonates without ROP (non-ROP), with ROP (ROP group), and those with Type 1, Type 2, and Stage 1+2 ROP were compared. Besides known statistical methods like Student’s t-test, logistic regression and classification & regression tree (C&RT) analysis were also done to identify a reliable quantitative predictive parameter. Results: Mean gestational age and birth weight of the ROP group (n=99) and non-ROP (n=43) group were 29.39±3.43 and 32.05±2.20 weeks and 1382.44±545.30 and 1691.51±360.84 grams, respectively (p<0.001, p<0.001). Average hemoglobin (Hb) (p<0.001), hematocrit (HCT) (p<0.001), erythrocyte (p=0.005), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) (p=0.020), and MCH concentration (p=0.019) values of the ROP group were lower than those of the non-ROP group. Leukocyte was higher in the ROP group (p=0.018). Hb [odds ratio (OR)=0.668, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.555-0.804, p<0.001], red cell distribution width (RDW) (OR=1.282, 95% CI=1.012-1.624, p=0.040), leukocyte (OR=1.157, 95% CI=1.053-1.271, p=0.002), and platelet (OR=0.997, 95% CI: 0.994-0.999, p=0.036) values differed significantly between the two groups. Platelet, MCV, and MCH parameters were found to be lower in the Type 1 ROP group compared to the Stage 1+2 ROP group (p<0.005). MCH was the most prominent predictor (cut-off: 34.43 pg) according to the results of C&RT analysis. Conclusion: As Hb plays an important role in oxygen transport, low levels of Hb and especially MCH may cause increased vascular endothelial growth factor secretion from the hypoxic retina, thereby causing ROP. Therefore, the results of this study are encouraging regarding the use of the abovementioned CBC parameters as a simple screening test to predict ROP.
Authors and Affiliations
Ayşe İpek Akyüz Ünsal, Özge Key, Duygu Güler, İmran Kurt Omurlu, Ayşe Anık, Buket Demirci, Sema Dündar
Impact of Platelet Count in Retinopathy of Prematurity
Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), including platelet count. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 137 infants in 3 subgroups: n...
Anterior Segment Analysis and Evaluation of Corneal Biomechanical Properties in Children with Joint Hypermobility
Objectives: To compare anterior segment parameters and biomechanical analysis of the cornea in children with joint hypermobility (JH) and healthy children. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional case-control study. Fift...
Efficacy of Intense Pulsed Light Treatment for Moderate to Severe Acute Blepharitis or Blepharoconjunctivitis: A Retrospective Case Series
Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of periocular intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy in the treatment of moderate to severe acute blepharitis or blepharoconjunctivitis. Materials and Methods: This was a retros...
Corneal Pathology and Cataract: Combined Surgery or Sequential Surgery?
Objectives: To compare our combined surgery (CS) and sequential surgery (SS) results. Materials and Methods: The files of 44 patients who underwent CS (penetrating keratoplasty [PK], cataract extraction, and intraocular...
Evaluation of Peripheral Retinal Changes on Ultra-Widefield Fundus Autofluorescence Images of Patients with Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Objectives: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of central vision loss in individuals aged 65 years and older in developed countries. Earlier imaging systems did not enable visualization of t...