Treatment success of laser therapy for retinopathy of prematurity in referred and non-referred patients

ABSTRACT Purpose: Comparison of laser therapy (LT) outcomes in patients with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) followed up in our clinic and referred from other centers. Methods: Medical records of 1,856 ROP patients were retrospectively evaluated, and a total of 128 patients who underwent LT were included in the study. The study population was divided into the following two groups: patients who were followed up and treated in our clinic (group 1, N=45) and patients who were referred to our clinic from other centers (group 2, N=83). Data regarding birth weight, sex, gestational age, postnatal treatment time, disease localization, and stage were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Treatment success was defined by anatomic success 6 months after treatment. Results: Patients in the referred group presented with a more advanced disease (p<0.01), a lower treatment success rate (p=0.01), and a longer time interval between diagnosis and LT (p=0.04). Conclusions: The treatment success rate of ROP was significantly lower in referred patients because of the potential delay in LT and more advanced disease at the time of treatment initiation.

摘要
研究目的：对比本门诊随访及外院转诊的早产儿视网膜病变（retinopathy of prematurity, ROP）患者接受激光治疗（laser therapy, LT）的临床疗效。
方法：回顾性分析1856例早产儿视网膜病变患者的病历资料，最终纳入128例接受激光治疗的患者作为研究对象。根据随访及治疗地点将研究对象分为两组：本门诊随访并接受治疗的患者（组1，N=45），以及从其他中心转诊至本门诊的患者（组2，N=83）。对两组患者的出生体重、性别、胎龄、产后治疗时间、病变部位及分期等数据进行分析与组间比较。以治疗后6个月的解剖学成功作为治疗成功的判定标准。
结果：转诊组患者的病变分期更晚（p<0.01）、治疗成功率更低（p=0.01），且从确诊到接受激光治疗的时间间隔更长（p=0.04）。
结论：由于激光治疗存在潜在延误且治疗初始时病变分期更晚，外院转诊的早产儿视网膜病变患者的治疗成功率显著更低。