ABSTRACT
To study a possible relation between the use of postnatal glucocorticoids and the
incidence and severity of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), we conducted a retrospective
study over a 4-year period that compared data of 161 preterm infants treated with
hydrocortisone for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) with the data of 253 controls.
The incidence of overall ROP was 62.7% in the hydrocortisone group and 21.3% in the
control group. The incidence of severe ROP (stages 3-5) was 5% in the treatment group
and 0.4% in the control group. Using logistic regression, postnatal hydrocortisone
therapy was not associated with an increased risk for ROP or severe ROP (OR 1.387,
95% confidence interval 0.773-2.489, p = 0.272 and OR 4.112, 95% C.I. 0.44-38.37, p = 0.16, respectively). Also, in a subgroup of extremely low-birth-weight infants
(<1000 g), postnatal hydrocortisone had no influence on the incidence of (severe)
ROP. In the infants with ROP (n = 155), only prolonged use of postnatal hydrocortisone was associated with an increased
risk for severe ROP (OR 1.02, 95% C.I. 1.00-1.03, p = 0.03). In this study postnatal use of hydrocortisone was not associated with an
increased risk for (severe) ROP. However, in infants already suffering from ROP, prolonged
treatment with hydrocortisone concurred with an increased risk for severe ROP.
KEYWORD
Retinopathy of prematurity - glucocorticoids - hydrocortisone - bronchopulmonary dysplasia