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Review
. 2021 Sep;110(9):2521-2528.
doi: 10.1111/apa.15945. Epub 2021 Jun 6.

The prenatal phase of retinopathy of prematurity

Olaf Dammann  1   2   3 , José Carlos Rivera  4   5 , Sylvain Chemtob  4   5   6
Affiliations
Review

The prenatal phase of retinopathy of prematurity

Olaf Dammann et al. Acta Paediatr. 2021 Sep.

Abstract

Aim: To explore the current literature on prenatal inflammation-associated risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Methods: Subjective summary of selected experimental and epidemiological publications that support the authors' central hypothesis that the aetiology of ROP begins before birth.

Results: Based on current evidence we suggest that, contrary to current aetiological models, the process of ROP development begins with a prephase in utero. This beginning is likely initiated by inflammatory responses that are associated with intrauterine infection.

Conclusion: We propose a novel aetio-pathogenetic model of ROP and suggest that the effects of postnatal exposure to inflammatory stressors (resulting from infection or hyperoxia or both) as well as those of other pre- and postnatal contributors to the complex pathogenesis of ROP might be modified by the prenatal phase of the disease.

Keywords: etiology; inflammation; pathogenesis; retinopathy of prematurity.

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References

REFERENCES

    1. Hartnett ME. Pathophysiology and mechanisms of severe retinopathy of prematurity. Ophthalmology. 2015;122:200-210.
    1. Hellstrom A, Smith LE, Dammann O. Retinopathy of prematurity. Lancet. 2013;382:1445-1457.
    1. Chen J, Smith LE. Retinopathy of prematurity. Angiogenesis. 2007;10:133-140.
    1. Madan A, Penn JS. Animal models of oxygen-induced retinopathy. Front Biosci. 2003;8:d1030-d1043.
    1. Dammann O. Etiological Explanations: Illness Causation Theory. Boca Raton: CRC Press; 2020.

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