Retinopathy of prematurity screening at ≥30 weeks: urinary NTpro-BNP performance

Abstract

Aim: Urinary N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide NTproBNP levels are associated with the development of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in infants <30 weeks of gestation. The incidence of ROP in more mature infants who meet other ROP screening criteria is very low. We therefore aimed to test whether urinary NTproBNP predicted ROP development in these infants.

Methods: Prospective observational study in 151 UK infants ≥30 + 0 weeks of gestation but also <32 weeks of gestation and/or <1501 g, to test the hypothesis that urinary NTproBNP levels on day of life (DOL) 14 and 28 were able to predict ROP development.

Results: Urinary NTproBNP concentrations on day 14 and day 28 of life did not differ between infants with and without ROP (medians 144 vs 128 mcg/mL, respectively, p = 0.86 on DOL 14 and medians 117 vs 94 mcg/mL, respectively, p = 0.64 on DOL28).

Conclusion: The association previously shown for infants <30 completed weeks between urinary NTproBNP and the development of ROP was not seen in more mature infants. Urinary NTproBNP does not appear helpful in rationalising direct ophthalmoscopic screening for ROP in more mature infants, and may suggest a difference in pathophysiology of ROP in this population.

Keywords: Preterm infants; Retinopathy of prematurity; Screening; Urinary NTproBNP.