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Placental health and retinopathy of prematurity in neonates

 

Seattle, Wash. — Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a vision-threatening disease of the retina caused by abnormal development of vessels in preterm neonates. ROP is the cause of 40% of global childhood blindness. This week at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology’s (ARVO) 2024 Annual Meeting, a study investigated whether there was an association between issues with the placenta and ROP since placental development is important for neonates’ health.

A team from the Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands examined the placentas of 594 premature babies for chronic and acute “placental inflammation” and “maternal and fetal vascular malperfusion.” Various outcomes were explored, and they discovered that 166 babies with ROP had some issues with their placentas. They had higher rates of distal villous hypoplasia, severe acute chorioamnionitis and funisitis.

One of the scientists, Salma El Emrani, PhD, commented, “We structurally examined placentas of neonates at risk of ROP for microscopic placental abnormalities and introduced acute inflammation in the placental membranes and umbilical cord, and inadequate development of the distal villous tree (main structure of the placenta) as novel and unique predictors of ROP. Since high-risk infants are usually not identified before the ophthalmologist becomes involved at 5-7 weeks after birth, evaluation of these placental risk factors shortly after birth can aid in identifying infants at high risk of ROP in an earlier stage than currently possible.”

  • Abstract title: Enhancing the ROP risk profile through structured evaluation of placental inflammation and uteroplacental malperfusion 
  • Presentation start/end time: Wednesday, May 8, 2:15 – 4pm PT  
  • Location: Poster/Exhibit Hall (Level 4), Seattle Convention Center - Arch Building
  • Posterboard number: B0089

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The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) is the largest eye and vision research organization in the world. Members include approximately 10,000 eye and vision researchers from over 75 countries. ARVO advances research worldwide into understanding the visual system and preventing, treating and curing its disorders. Learn more at ARVO.org.

Media contact:
Jenniffer Scherhaufer, MMC, CAE
1.240.221.2923
media@arvo.org

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