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Birth Weight Is a Significant Predictor of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness at 36 Weeks Postmenstrual Age in Preterm Infants.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Shen, LL; Mangalesh, S; McGeehan, B; Tai, V; Sarin, N; El-Dairi, MA; Freedman, SF; Maguire, MG; Toth, CA; BabySTEPS Group,
Published in: Am J Ophthalmol
February 2021

PURPOSE: To assess retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in preterm infants. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. METHODS: We imaged 83 awake infants (159 eyes) at 36 ± 1 weeks postmenstrual age (defined as the time elapsed between the first day of the last maternal menstrual period and the time at imaging) using a handheld optical coherence tomography (OCT) system at the bedside. Blinded graders semi-automatically segmented RNFL in the papillomacular bundle (-15 to +15° relative to the fovea-optic nerve axis). We correlated RNFL thickness and 7 characteristics of interest (sex, race, ethnicity, gestational age, birth weight, stage of retinopathy at prematurity, and presence of pre-plus or plus disease) via univariable and multivariable regressions. RESULTS: RNFL was 3.4 μm thicker in the right eyes than in the left eyes (P < .001). Among 7 characteristics, birth weight was the only independent predictor of RNFL thickness (P < .001). A 250-g increase in birth weight was associated with 5.2 μm (95% confidence interval: 3.3-7.0) increase in RNFL thickness. Compared with very preterm infants, extremely preterm infants had thinner RNFL (58.0 ± 10.7 μm vs 63.4 ± 10.7 μm, P = .03), but the statistical significance disappeared after adjustment for birth weight (P = .25). RNFL thickness was 11.2 μm thinner in extremely low birth weight infants than in very low birth weight infants (55.5 ± 8.3 μm vs. 66.7 ± 10.2 μm; P < .001). The difference remained statistically significant after adjustment for gestational age. CONCLUSION: Birth weight is a significant independent predictor of RNFL thickness near birth, implying that the retinal ganglion cells reserve is affected by intrauterine processes that affect birth weight.

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Published In

Am J Ophthalmol

DOI

EISSN

1879-1891

Publication Date

February 2021

Volume

222

Start / End Page

41 / 53

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Visual Acuity
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence
  • Retinopathy of Prematurity
  • Retinal Ganglion Cells
  • Prospective Studies
  • Optic Disk
  • Ophthalmology & Optometry
  • Nerve Fibers
  • Male
  • Infant, Premature
 

Citation

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ICMJE
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Shen, L. L., Mangalesh, S., McGeehan, B., Tai, V., Sarin, N., El-Dairi, M. A., … BabySTEPS Group, . (2021). Birth Weight Is a Significant Predictor of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness at 36 Weeks Postmenstrual Age in Preterm Infants. Am J Ophthalmol, 222, 41–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2020.08.043
Shen, Liangbo L., Shwetha Mangalesh, Brendan McGeehan, Vincent Tai, Neeru Sarin, Mays A. El-Dairi, Sharon F. Freedman, Maureen G. Maguire, Cynthia A. Toth, and Cynthia A. BabySTEPS Group. “Birth Weight Is a Significant Predictor of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness at 36 Weeks Postmenstrual Age in Preterm Infants.Am J Ophthalmol 222 (February 2021): 41–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2020.08.043.
Shen LL, Mangalesh S, McGeehan B, Tai V, Sarin N, El-Dairi MA, et al. Birth Weight Is a Significant Predictor of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness at 36 Weeks Postmenstrual Age in Preterm Infants. Am J Ophthalmol. 2021 Feb;222:41–53.
Shen, Liangbo L., et al. “Birth Weight Is a Significant Predictor of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness at 36 Weeks Postmenstrual Age in Preterm Infants.Am J Ophthalmol, vol. 222, Feb. 2021, pp. 41–53. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.ajo.2020.08.043.
Shen LL, Mangalesh S, McGeehan B, Tai V, Sarin N, El-Dairi MA, Freedman SF, Maguire MG, Toth CA, BabySTEPS Group. Birth Weight Is a Significant Predictor of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness at 36 Weeks Postmenstrual Age in Preterm Infants. Am J Ophthalmol. 2021 Feb;222:41–53.
Journal cover image

Published In

Am J Ophthalmol

DOI

EISSN

1879-1891

Publication Date

February 2021

Volume

222

Start / End Page

41 / 53

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Visual Acuity
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence
  • Retinopathy of Prematurity
  • Retinal Ganglion Cells
  • Prospective Studies
  • Optic Disk
  • Ophthalmology & Optometry
  • Nerve Fibers
  • Male
  • Infant, Premature