NYMC Faculty Publications

Sildenafil and Retinopathy of Prematurity in Preterm Infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Journal Title

The Journal of Pediatrics

First Page

16

Last Page

21

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

January 2018

Department

Epidemiology and Community Health

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether sildenafil is associated with worsening retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (/=3 ROP. Worsening ROP was defined as increased stage of ROP within 8 weeks + 4 days after initiation of sildenafil or matched postmenstrual age. RESULTS: Twenty-three exposed infants and 69 matched controls met the inclusion criteria for the study (mean birth weight, 715 +/- 210 g; mean gestational age, 25 +/- 1 weeks). The mean postmenstrual age at sildenafil treatment was 42 +/- 8 weeks. Exposed infants had more days of respiratory support (mean, 208 +/- 101 days vs 102 +/- 33 days; P<.001). Exposed infants had a higher prevalence of severe ROP (26% [6 of 23] vs 7% [5 of 69]; OR, 6.4; 95% CI, 1.2-32.9; P = .026). Five exposed infants and 2 unexposed infants had severe ROP before starting sildenafil and were excluded from the analysis for worsening ROP. The rate of worsening ROP did not differ significantly between exposed infants and unexposed infants ((41% [7 of 17] vs 24% [12 of 51]; OR, 8.4; 95% CI, 0.9-78.6; P = .061). CONCLUSION: Although sildenafil treatment was not statistically significantly associated with worsening of ROP, the raw difference in ROP rate is concerning. Larger studies are warranted to confirm this finding.

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