摘要
Purpose: To present the occasional observation of retinal haemorrhages in prem ature babies, as a diagnostic alternative to those observed as part of shaken ba by syndrome. Methods: We carried out an observational study on 11 infants in who m retinal and/or vitreous haemorrhages had been observed within their first mont hs of life. Ten infants were under surveillance for retinopathy of prematurity ( ROP), with gestational ages and birth weights in the ranges of 27-34 weeks and 790-1665 g, respectively. One infant was diagnosed with Zellweger’s syndrome a nd one received substitution therapy for coagulation factor II deficiency. The l ast child had been delivered at 38 weeks, weighing 2070 g; he died on day 5 from severe brain oedema with incarceration and extensive bilateral fundus bleeding. Results: Four of the 11 infants had some evidence of ROP, and two later receive d retinal ablation therapy. Contrary to the quick absorption ( < 1-2 weeks only ) usually seen in most newborn term infants, the ocular bleeding in preterms was generally longstanding. A quick increase in intracranial pressure probably play ed a role in the lethal case with delivery near term, and one infant received lu ng physiotherapy for pneumonia at the age of 6 months. Some bleeding appeared to be truly postnatal (i.e. it was observed as a new occurrence during the course of surveillance). Conclusions: In the series under study there was no suspicion of child abuse. In term infants, retinal haemorrhages are extremely rare except when due to shaking, but other diseases should be ruled out, coagulopathies in p articular. We suggest that prematurity as such is added to the list of possibly underlying causes when retinal bleedings are evaluated in very small infants and shaken baby mechanisms are suspected.
Purpose: To present the occasional observation of retinal haemorrhages in prem ature babies, as a diagnostic alternative to those observed as part of shaken ba by syndrome. Methods: We carried out an observational study on 11 infants in who m retinal and/or vitreous haemorrhages had been observed within their first mont hs of life. Ten infants were under surveillance for retinopathy of prematurity ( ROP), with gestational ages and birth weights in the ranges of 27-34 weeks and 790-1665 g, respectively. One infant was diagnosed with Zellweger's syndrome a nd one received substitution therapy for coagulation factor II deficiency. The l ast child had been delivered at 38 weeks, weighing 2070 g; he died on day 5 from severe brain oedema with incarceration and extensive bilateral fundus bleeding. Results: Four of the 11 infants had some evidence of ROP, and two later receive d retinal ablation therapy. Contrary to the quick absorption ( < 1-2 weeks only ) usually seen in most newborn term infants, the ocular bleeding in preterms was generally longstanding. A quick increase in intracranial pressure probably play ed a role in the lethal case with delivery near term, and one infant received lu ng physiotherapy for pneumonia at the age of 6 months. Some bleeding appeared to be truly postnatal (i.e. it was observed as a new occurrence during the course of surveillance). Conclusions: In the series under study there was no suspicion of child abuse. In term infants, retinal haemorrhages are extremely rare except when due to shaking, but other diseases should be ruled out, coagulopathies in p articular. We suggest that prematurity as such is added to the list of possibly underlying causes when retinal bleedings are evaluated in very small infants and shaken baby mechanisms are suspected.
出处
《世界核心医学期刊文摘（眼科学分册）》
2005年第11期9-10,共2页
Digest of the World Core Medical Journals:Ophthalmology
