Capillary-free Vascularized Retina in Patients with Aggressive Posterior Retinopathy of Prematurity and Late Retinal Capillary Formation.
10.3341/kjo.2013.27.2.109
- Author:
Seong Joon AHN
1
;
Jeong Hun KIM
;
Seong Joon KIM
;
Young Suk YU
Author Information
1. Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ysyu@snu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity;
Angiogenesis;
Capillaries
- MeSH:
Capillaries/*pathology;
Female;
Humans;
Infant;
Laser Coagulation/*methods;
Male;
Retina/*pathology/surgery;
Retinal Vessels/*pathology/surgery;
Retinopathy of Prematurity/*pathology/*surgery;
Retrospective Studies;
Treatment Outcome
- From:Korean Journal of Ophthalmology
2013;27(2):109-115
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: To report the clinical features, clinical course, and treatment outcomes after laser photocoagulation in infants with aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity (APROP) and capillary-free zones in vascularized retina. METHODS: Six patients (12 eyes) with APROP and capillary-free zones in vascularized retina were retrospectively reviewed. Twelve eyes of six infants were included and were treated with laser photocoagulation for avascular retina and for capillary-free zones in vascularized retina, except for the posterior pole, and fundus findings were photographically-documented in sequence. In addition, anatomic and visual outcomes were evaluated with complications of APROP. RESULTS: Among all of the consecutive infants with APROP, capillary-free zones in vascularized retina were demonstrated in 24% of the infants. All of the infants were >27 weeks of gestation age and had birth weights >1,000 g. After laser treatment, 7 eyes (58.3%) had favorable outcomes, and late capillary filling in capillary-free zones of vascularized retina were noted, however 4 eyes (33.3%) progressed to retinal detachment and 1 eye (8.3%) was complicated by a retinal fold-distorting posterior pole. The visual outcomes were associated with anatomic outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The anatomic outcomes in infants with APROP who had capillary-free zones were comparable to previously reported infants with APROP. The late capillary filling of capillary-free zones in vascularized retina was noted, and angiogenesis was considered to be involved. This process toward normal capillary formation or neovascularization in APROP, might determine its outcome.
