Postnatal dexamethasone treatment and retinopathy of prematurity in very-low-birth-weight neonates

Whether postnatal dexamethasone treatment for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) increases the risk of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) neonates is uncertain. We performed a retrospective cohort study to determine the association between dexamethasone administered postnatally and the development of ROP in VLBW (less than or equal to 1,250 g birth weight, less than or equal to 32 weeks' gestational age at birth) neonates. The incidence of severe ROP (stage 2 or higher) was 26% among 72 infants who received no dexamethasone postnatally, 61% among 23 infants who received a low cumulative dexamethasone dose (less than or equal to 1.8 mg/kg body weight), and 85% among 20 infants who received a high cumulative dexamethasone dose (> 1.8 mg/kg body weight). However, after adjustment for confounding covariates of prematurity and severity of lung disease by logistic regression analysis, we found no independent association between postnatal dexamethasone treatment and the incidence of severe ROP. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.