文本框: THRESHOLD RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY - INCIDENCE AND RISK FACTORS Niwald A., Gralek M. Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland Objective: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a vasoproliferative, multifactorial disease of developing retina. The threshold stage of ROP always requires treatment because of complications including blindness. We studied the incidence rates of threshold ROP according to the range of gestational and clinical factors. Methods: 94 children with diagnosed threshold stage of ROP was included to the study from the group of prematures followed ophthalmologic investigation in the years 1990-2000. The gestational (age, birth weight, hipotrophy and Apgar score) and clinical (oxygen therapy, ventillation and phototherapy) factors were analyzed. Data were compared with the use of the multifactorial analysis to 1243 preterm neonates without ROP. Results: Among the potential risk factors hipotrophy and duration of phototherapy had no significant influence on the development of ROP. High risk of threshold stage of ROP was observed in neonates born before 28th week of gestation, weighted at birth less than 1000 g. The significant risk factors were also the asphyxia, duration of mechanical ventillation exceeding 30 days and oxygen therapy longer than 40 days. Conclusions: 1.The gestational age and birth weight are the major risk factors for development of ROP. 2. Duration of mechanical ventillation and oxygen therapy has significant influence on the development of threshold ROP 3.The clinical treatment of preterm neonates has to be performed with possibly best protection of the developing eye. 1918