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Possible roles of bilirubin and breast milk in protection against retinopathy of prematurity
Author(s) -
Kao Joanna S,
Dawson Jeffrey D,
Murray Jeffrey C,
Dagle John M,
Berends Susan K,
Gillen Susan B,
Bell Edward F
Publication year - 2011
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/j.1651-2227.2010.02069.x
Subject(s) - medicine , retinopathy of prematurity , breast milk , bilirubin , logistic regression , breast feeding , serum bilirubin , gestation , birth weight , gestational age , pediatrics , obstetrics , physiology , gastroenterology , pregnancy , biochemistry , chemistry , genetics , biology
Aim: To explore the association of serum bilirubin level and breast milk feeding with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm infants. Methods: We conducted a case–control study to examine the independent and combined effects of serum bilirubin and breast milk feeding on ROP risk in infants <32 weeks gestation or with birth weight <1500 g. Cases (66 infants with ROP) were matched with controls (66 infants without ROP) based on factors known to affect ROP risk. Results: When analysed using the paired t‐test, the peak bilirubin levels were lower in ROP cases than in controls (mean 7.2 vs. 7.9 mg/dL; p = 0.045). Using conditional logistic regression, we found a negative association between highest serum bilirubin level and risk of ROP (OR = 0.82 per 1‐mg/dL change in bilirubin; p = 0.06). There was no significant association between breast milk feeding and risk of ROP. Conclusion: Bilirubin may help to protect preterm infants against ROP.