Haemogram Parameters in the Development of Retinopathy of Prematurity

Purpose: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), an abnormal proliferation of retinal vessels in premature infants with low birth weight, develops due to many factors. This study investigated a possible correlation between haematological parameters and ROP development. Method: This study included 189 infants without ROP and 128 with ROP. All were born at 35 weeks’ gestation or earlier, had a CBC drawn within 72 hours of birth, and had haemogram data for the first month. Haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit (Hct), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), red cell distribution width (RDW), platelet counts (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) values were obtained from hospital data and retrospectively analysed. Results: The mean gestational age was 31 weeks and 29 weeks for the control and ROP groups, respectively; the mean birth weights were 1757 g and 1332 g, respectively. The ROP group’s birth Hb, MCV and RDW were significantly lower than the control group (p < 0.001), whereas PLT and MPV were significantly higher (p < 0.001). The ROP group’s Hb and PLT in the first month were significantly lower than the control group (p < 0.001), whereas RDW, MPV and PDW were significantly higher (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Premature infants with ROP had lower Hb and increased platelet, MPV and PDW in early postnatal life than infants without ROP. In the first month, when ROP develops, low PLT, PDW and Hb and high MPV could be indicators for ROP diagnosis, follow-up and treatment.