The assessment of multifocal ERG responses in school-age children with history of prematurity.

PURPOSE: The authors examined macular function in preterm-born children, using multifocal ERG (mfERG). Possible alterations in P1 amplitudes, P1 amplitudes density and P1 implicit time between school-age children with history of prematurity and their peers were researched. The correlations between parameters of mfERG responses and birth weight, gestational age, macular volume and central macular thickness were verified. METHODS: A group of 18 preterm-born school-age children were analyzed (mean age 10.18 ± 1.21 years). The study group was compared to the group of 15 peers born appropriate for gestational age (mean age 10.8 ± 1.52 years). The mfERG was evaluated in all children. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences for P1 amplitudes from ring 1 (p = 0.0001) and P1 amplitudes density from ring 1 (p = 0.0001). Calculating the correlation coefficients, we receive significant results for P1 amplitudes from ring 1 versus gestational age (r = 0.54; p = 0.026), birth weight (r = 0.54; p = 0.026) and central macular thickness (r = -0.62; p = 0.008), and for P1 amplitudes density from ring 1 versus central macular thickness (r = -0.51; p = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that P1 amplitudes and P1 amplitudes density vary in preterm-born children in comparison with their peers born appropriate for gestational age, which might suggest discreet macular dysfunction. The correlation between low birth weight, early gestational age, central macular thickness and mFERG components from ring 1 might evidence that decreased bipolar cells density caused by premature birth is the result of altered development of central retina reflecting in structural anomalies of the fovea.

An Influence of Birth Weight, Gestational Age, and Apgar Score on Pattern Visual Evoked Potentials in Children with History of Prematurity.

PURPOSE: The objective of our study was to examine a possible influence of gestational age, birth weight, and Apgar score on amplitudes and latencies of P100 wave in preterm born school-age children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined the following group of school-age children: 28 with history of prematurity (mean age 10.56 ± 1.66 years) and 25 born at term (mean age 11.2 ± 1.94 years). The monocular PVEP was performed in all children. RESULTS: The P100 wave amplitudes and latencies significantly differ between preterm born school-age children and those born at term. There was an essential positive linear correlation of the P100 wave amplitudes with birth weight, gestational age, and Apgar score. There were the negative linear correlations of P100 latencies in 15-minute stimulation from O1 and Oz electrode with Apgar score and O1 and O2 electrode with gestational age. CONCLUSIONS: PVEP responses vary in preterm born children in comparison to term. Low birth weight, early gestational age, and poor baseline output seem to be the predicting factors for the developmental rate of a brain function in children with history of prematurity. Further investigations are necessary to determine perinatal factors that can affect the modified visual system function in preterm born children.

[Macular morphology and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in children with regressed retinopathy of prematurity]. / Morfologia siatkówki w plamce i grubosc warstwy wlókien nerwowych tarczy nerwu wzrokowego u dzieci z przebyta retinopatia wczesniaków.

PURPOSE: morphobiometric evaluation of macula and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness with the use of high-resolution optical coherence tomography in children with a history of regressed retinopathy or prematurity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 18 patients at the age of 8 to 14 years with a history of spontaneously regressed retinopathy of prematurity were studied prospectively. For statistical purposes a control group of 21 matched subjects at the age of 8 to 15 years was used. Ophthalmic examination and optical coherence tomography were performed in each patient. Peripapillary nerve fibre layer thickness, foveal and parafoveal thickness ratio, total macular volume and subfoveal choroidal thickness were measured in both groups. RESULTS: in the optical coherence tomography, the foveal thickness in children with retinopathy of prematurity was significantly higher [269.5 µm (232-321)] compared to the controls [224.5 µm (207-267)]. The macular volume in the study group was also higher (8.68 mm³). The subfoveal choroidal thickness was reduced in study group [321 µm (112-365)] compared to the control group [337 µm (294-358)]. There was no statistical significant difference in total peripapillary nerve fibre layer thickness between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The morphobiometric macular changes in eyes with a history of regressed retinopathy of prematurity are possibly related to the developmental abnormalities, which retinopathy of prematurity is due to the presence of the abnormal foveal structure across all retinal layers.

[The evaluation of the efficacy of treatment in glaucoma associated with Sturge-Weber syndrome]. / Ocena skutecznosci leczenia jaskry w przebiegu zespolu Sturge'a-Webera.

PURPOSE: To estimate the efficiency of glaucoma treatment in Sturge-Weber syndrome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 4 patients with Sturge-Weber syndrome and the consecutive glaucoma seen at the Department of Ophthalmology in Bialystok between the years 1999-20005, were reviewed. Glaucoma associated with Sturge-Weber syndrome was diagnosed at the age of 6 months in 1 patient, of 10-11 years in 2 patients and of 14 years in 1 patients. All patients underwent surgery. 2 eyes underwent trabeculectomy and 2 eyes had nonpenetrating deep sclerectomy with SKGel implant. RESULTS: Before the surgery the intraocular pressure was 35.2 mmHg (range from 25 to 48 mmHg). All patients required anti-glaucoma medications after surgery to keep intraocular pressure less than 22 mmHg. After surgery the mean intraocular pressure was 26.25 mmHg (range from 22 to 32 mmHg). 2 patients required 2 medications: Betoptic, and/or Trusopt, and/or Xalatan and 2 patients required 1 medication. After antiglaucoma medications mean IOP was 15.2 mmHg (range from 12 to 18 mmHg). CONCLUSION: The results of therapy for glaucoma associated with the Sturge-Weber syndrome are often disappointing.

[The estimation of selected parameters in antioxidant system in red blood cells in ROP screening of premature infants]. / Ocena wybranych parametrów ukladu antyoksydacyjnego w erytrocytach u wczesniaków badanych przesiewowo w kierunku ROP.

PURPOSE: To estimate correlation between concentration of antioxidant system parameters in red blood cells in premature infants and prevalence of ROP MATERIAL AND METHODS: We examined 16 premature infants with the average birth weight of 1071 g and gestational age of 29.1 weeks. Supraoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutatione (GSH), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), were measured at day 1 (cord blood), 7-th and 14-th day after birth. Premature infants had ROP screening. The control group included 12 infants born at term. RESULTS: 8 premature infants had ROP There were higher levels of SOD, GSH and GSH-Px in premature infants with and without ROP than in control group. Premature infants with ROP had lowest levels of GSH. CONCLUSIONS: The glutathione status of red blood cells as a oxidative stress index in premature infants might be a reliable parameter, facilitating the early recognition of patients in immediate danger of ROP development.

[Impression cytology in patients with dry eye syndrome and various rheumatic diseases]. / Cytologia impresyjna w zespole suchego oka w przebiegu wybranych chorób reumatologicznych.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytological changes of bulbar conjunctiva in patients with various rheumatic diseases and dry eye syndrome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 60 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic scleroderma (SScl), primary Sjbgren syndrome (pSS), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and dry eye syndrome were studied. The ocular examination consisted of Schirmer I, break- up time of tear film (BUT), fluorescein and lissamine green staining and impression cytology of bulbar conjunctiva. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The morphological alternations of bulbar conjunctiva seen in impression cytology specimens correlated with clinical signs of dry eye syndrome.

[The results of diode laser treatment of retinopathy of prematurity]. / Wyniki leczenia retinopatii wczesniaków laserem diodowym.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of diode laser treatment of active phase of retinopathy in prematurity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied 240 premature infants since January 2003 to October 2004. In 60 premature infants (102 eyes--25%) ROP was found. 26 premature infants (52 eyes--43.3%) with threshold ROP (stage 3a) in II zone (12 eyes) and in II and III zone (40 eyes) were treated with an aid of diode laser. Birth weight varied from 650 to 990g (mean 799.23g) and gestational age from 23 to 28 weeks (mean Hbd 26.2). RESULTS: Good anatomical results were obtained in 25 cases (50 eyes--96.15%), in 1 case (2 eyes--3.85%) was total retinal detachment. In this case the progress of retinopathy was caused by small birth weight and other chronic disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Diode laser treatment of active phase of retinopathy in prematurity gives good anatomical results. The results of treatment depend on the other chronic diseases of premature infants.

[The effectiveness of latanoprost for the treatment of pediatric glaucoma]. / Skutecznosc latanoprostu w jaskrze wieku dzieciecego.

Latanoprost is a prostaglandin F2alpha analog that reduces intraocular pressure by 20-40% in adults with open-angle glaucoma. The efficacy and safety of this drug in children has not been widely reported. In our study we evaluated the effect of latanoprost in 14 children aged 12-18 years (mean 15 years): 10 patients with glaucoma juvenile (I group); 2 patients with secondary glaucoma because of uveitis recidivans and 2 patients with aniridia and albinismus (II group). In the I group the average IOP decrement was 9 mmHg or 36.5% (range 29-44%). In the II group the average IOP decrement was 6.5 mmHg or 23.5% (range 11-33%). In one child with aniridia after one year of treatment IOL rose again to 26 mmHg and antiglaucomatous surgery was necessary. Ocular side effects in children of latanoprost are mild.