Manoj Soman, Sameer I*, Anshuman Gahlot, Sheera K R, Abdul Nizar A P and Unnikrishnan Nair R

Chaithanya Eye Hospital and Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

*Corresponding Author: Sameer I, Department of Vitreo-Retinal Service, Chaithanya Eye Hospital and Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.

Received: August 10, 2021; Published: August 21, 2021

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the incidence of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) in children conceived through assisted reproductive techniques (ART) and to analyze whether the severity of ROP varied with babies born through natural conception.

Methods: This was a retrospective chart analysis of the CRADLE ROP data between September 2018 and April 2020 and included a multicentric NICU based neonatal screening for Retinopathy of Prematurity using the mobile Retcam Imaging system. Birth weight, gestational age, time of first examination, presence or absence of any stage of ROP, severity of the disease especially APROP and treatment were analyzed. Babies born through natural conception were compared with ART born babies.

Results: 492 Neonates were examined during this period. ROP was detected in 22.7% and treatment for ROP was advised in 21.4% neonates who developed ROP. 34 infants (6.9%) were born through assisted conception. Infants born through assisted conception accounted for 25% of all those infants requiring treatment. Out of those born through natural conception 22% (101 babies) developed ROP and 17.8% of these needed treatment. 32% (11 babies) of ART born babies developed ROP and 54% (6 babies) of these needed treatment. Bilateral APROP requiring anti-VEGF treatment was seen in 9% babies in the ART group compared to 1.9% in the other group. ROP that developed in ART babies were more in need of treatment than natural conception [OR - 5.33 (95% CI: 1.54, 18.47) with p-value < 0.05].

Conclusion: ART born babies make up a considerable proportion of the ROP babies who need treatment. Therefore, increased vigilance is required when screening babies conceived by assisted conception. With the demand for infertility treatment and use of assisted conception increasing, it can only be expected that this number will increase in future.

Keywords: Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP); Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART)

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Citation

Citation: Sameer I., et al. “Retinopathy of Prematurity in Babies Born of Infertility Treatment- Cradle ROP Experience".Acta Scientific Ophthalmology 4.9 (2021): 51-54.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2021 Sameer I., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.