The Role of Thrombocyte Parameters in Retinopathy of Prematurity Development.

Dilek Özkaya,Sorin Hostiuc

doi:10.1155/2022/7518533

Abstract

Purpose To investigate the role of thrombocyte parameters in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) development. Materials and Methods This retrospective study included 120 preterm infants in total. Group 1 was formed by infants who developed type-1 ROP and received treatment. Group 2 was formed by infants who developed ROP and were not treated for ROP. Infants who did not develop ROP and whose retinal vascularization was completed in their follow-up formed Group 3. Gestational age, birth weight, and genders of groups were recorded. Platelet (PLT) count, mean platelet volume (MPV), and platelet distribution width (PDW) values were obtained from complete blood count. Platelet mass index (PMI) was calculated by multiplying the PLT count by MPV value. Thrombocytopenia was defined as PLT count <150 × 1000/μL. All parameters were compared between the groups. Results There were 40 preterm infants in each group. The mean PLT count was 272.43 ± 122.67 in Group 1, 333.32 ± 133.06 in Group 2, and 310.03 ± 119.41 in Group 3. The difference in PLT count between the groups was not significant (p=0.094). Thrombocytopenia was observed in 25% of Group 1, 10% of Group 2, and 10% of Group 3 (p=0.095). No statistically significant difference was found in terms of MPV, PDW, and PMI values between the groups (p=0.102, p=0.097, and p=0.298, respectively). Conclusions Although PLT count was lower and thrombocytopenia rate was higher in the type-1 ROP group, the differences were not found to be significant. Further prospective studies are required to evaluate the role of thrombocytes in ROP pathogenesis.

Highlights

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a multifactorial vasoproliferative disorder developing in the incompletely vascularized retina of preterm infants
We aimed to investigate the role of thrombocyte parameters including PLT count, presence of thrombocytopenia, Mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), and Platelet mass index (PMI) in ROP development
Demographic characteristics of patients including gestational age, birth weight, and gender are presented in Table 1. ere was a significant difference in terms of gestational age and birth weight between the groups (p < 0.001)

Summary

Introduction

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a multifactorial vasoproliferative disorder developing in the incompletely vascularized retina of preterm infants. ROP is such an important disease accounting for approximately 40% of all childhood blindness in the world. The survival of low birth weight infants increases, and ROP incidence is rising [1, 2]. E pathogenesis of ROP is thought to consist of two phases. E first phase involves vaso-obliteration secondary to the decrease of the angiogenic factors including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in response to postnatal hyperoxia. Retinal hypoxia developing due to an increase of metabolic demands of the avascular retina leads to increased levels of VEGF, and as a result, vasoproliferation constitutes the second phase [4]

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