Assessment of Echocardiographic Findings in Patients with Asymmetric Presentation of Retinopathy of Prematurity

Abstract

Introduction:This study aimed to investigate the relationship between symmetric and asymmetric retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and echocardiographic parameters.Methods:This prospective study included 85 premature infants classified into three groups based on the presence/absence of ROP: 32 premature infants without ROP (group A), 26 premature infants with asymmetric ROP (group B), and 27 premature infants with symmetric ROP (group C). Cardiac parameters were measured using M-mode echocardiography.Results:The mean gestational age (GA) was 32.03±1.5 weeks in group A, 30.69±2.5 weeks in group B, and 31.5±2.9 weeks in group C. The mean birth weight (BW) was 1802±312 gram (g) in group A, 1606±470 g in group B, and 1642±456 g in group C. As a result of the one-way ANOVA, the mean GA and BW were significantly higher in group A (p=0.03). No significant differences were found in the interventricular septal wall thickness (diastolic and systolic) left ventricular internal dimension (diastolic and systolic), left ventricular posterior wall thickness (diastolic and systolic), ejection fraction, stroke volume, and fractional shortening among the three groups (p=0.12, p=0.93, p=0.64, p=0.91, p=0.48, p=0.83, p=0.56, p=0.72, p=0.32, p=0.73, p=0.21, respectively).Conclusion:Global cardiac function does not seem to have an effect in the asymmetric presentation of the eyes in patients with ROP.

Keywords

• retinopathy of prematurity
• asymmetry
• echocardiography