Rezumat: Background. In the last years, the rate of prematurity has
continuously increased worldwide while the survival age
of premature babies has been decreased. Among the late
complications of prematurity, retinopathy of prematurity
(ROP) represents one of the pathologies with most serious
and potentialy invalidating consequences (blinding);
its ethiology, physiopathological mechanisms and risk
factors are not yet completely elucidated. Objective. To
identify pre- and postnatal factors which increase the risk
of developing ROP in our hospital and to revise the actual
ethiological hypotesis comprised in the medical literature.
Methods. We performed a 2-year retrospective study
(2015-2016) and we analized the data from the medical
records of premature babies with gestational age of 34
weeks or below admitted in the Neonatology Department
of the Emergency University Hospital in this period; among
these patients, those who developed ROP were selected and
we analyzed any possible association between the severity
of illness and different pre- or postnatal factors. Results.
Incidence of ROP in our study was of 16.5% among all
premature babies, but higher (35.5%) in the selected group
(≤34 weeks of gestation). Risk factors for developing ROP
were determined to be the following: small gestational
age and weight, prolonged oxygenotherapy, hypoxic or
hyeroxic episodes, blood transfusions, intraventricular
haemorrhage, corticotherapy, treatment with dopamine,
parenteral nutrition; among potential prenatal causes, our
study has identified intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)
as a risk factor for developing ROP. Conclusions. ROP
is a multifactorial disease, influenced by postnatal care,
but prenatal conditions and inherent, epigenetic factors
seem to have also an important role. The classical theories
according to which ROP is considered to be determined
by low gestational age and prolonged oxygenotherapy
need to be revised and completed with new extended
thorough investigations. The results of these invesigations
could influence the actual medical practice everywhere. Cuvinte cheie: ROP, retinopathy of prematurity, premature.