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The prenatal phase of retinopathy of prematurity
Author(s) -
Dammann Olaf,
Rivera José Carlos,
Chemtob Sylvain
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/apa.15945
Subject(s) - medicine , retinopathy of prematurity , etiology , in utero , pathogenesis , disease , epidemiology , prenatal care , pediatrics , pregnancy , intensive care medicine , fetus , immunology , gestational age , pathology , population , environmental health , genetics , biology
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.