[Risk of damage to the organ of vision in low birth weight infants]

Abstract

The authors presented their own material of years 1974-1977. During this period 8788 children were born, in it 737 (8,3%) with low birth weight (below 2500 g). Retrolental fibroplasia was diagnosed in 4 children, it was 0,5% of newborns with low birth weight, and 0,04% of the all live-borns. The retrolental fibroplasia was diagnosed in: 1) the child born in 27 week of pregnancy with 1000 g of body weight, 2) in two children born in 32-33 week of pregnancy with 1450 g and 1350 g of body weight, 3) in a child born in 31 week of pregnancy with 1600 g of body weight. The infants were nursed in incubators with about 30% of oxygen during 36 to 46 days. Contemporary hypoglycemia, hypoproteinemia, atelectasia of lungs with respiratory insufficiency were diagnosed. In the discussion the authors underlined the role of immaturity and hypoxia of the premature baby, which play the role in the secondary injury of vessel's walls of retina. The disturbancy of carbohydrate and protein metabolism were certainly secondary pathogenic agent sin retrolental fibroplasia. There exists the necessity of oxygen therapy of premature baby, but to take cre of the infant in the incubator does not mean the necessity of oxygen therapy . Even with controlled oxygen dosage in incubator the retrolental fibroplasia may occur as a result of relative hyperoxydation induced by the constriction of retina vessels. The authors underlined the necessity of repeated ophthalmologic examination of premature babies in about every 2 weeks, what makes very early diagnosis possible.