INCREASED FOVEAL GANGLION CELL AND INNER PLEXIFORM LAYER THICKNESS IN CHILDREN AGED 6.5 YEARS BORN EXTREMELY PRETERM.

PURPOSE: To analyze the ganglion cell layer and inner plexiform layer (GCL+) thickness in children born extremely preterm and control children. METHODS: A study of 6.5-year-old children born before the gestational age of 27 weeks and age-matched controls. The GCL+ thickness and foveal depth (FD) were analyzed in a single optical coherence tomography B-scan. Association with neonatal risk factors and sex was investigated. Extremely preterm was divided into no, mild, and severe retinopathy of prematurity, retinopathy of prematurity treatment, and no, mild, and severe intraventricular hemorrhage. RESULTS: Adequate measurements were obtained from 89 children born extremely preterm and 92 controls. Extremely preterm children had increased total (5 µm, P < 0.001) and central (21 µm, P < 0.001) GCL+ thickness and reduced FD (-53 µm, P < 0.001) compared with controls. Extremely preterm children receiving retinopathy of prematurity treatment had increased GCL+ thickness and reduced FD compared with other subgroups. Sex and gestational age were associated with increased central GCL+ thickness and reduced FD. Reduced total GCL+ thickness was associated with severe intraventricular hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: Extremely preterm birth can cause incomplete extrusion of the GCL+ and reduced FD. Retinopathy of prematurity treatment, gestational age, and male sex were associated to increased central GCL+ thickness and reduced FD, while severe intraventricular hemorrhage was associated with reduced total GCL+ thickness.

CENTRAL MACULAR THICKNESS IN 6.5-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN BORN EXTREMELY PRETERM IS STRONGLY ASSOCIATED WITH GESTATIONAL AGE EVEN WHEN ADJUSTED FOR RISK FACTORS.

PURPOSE: To assess the macular thickness in 6.5-year-old children born extremely preterm (EPT) in comparison with children born at term and to investigate risk factors associated with the macular thickness in the preterm group. METHODS: A population-based study of 6.5-year-old children born before the gestational age of 27 weeks and age-matched control subjects. Macular assessments with optical coherence tomography were performed, and the results were compared with neonatal risk factors and sex. RESULTS: Adequate optical coherence tomography measurements were obtained from 134 children born EPT (mean gestational age of 25 weeks [range 23-26]) and 145 control subjects. The mean (range) of central macula thickness was significantly increased (P < 0.001) in the EPT group (right eyes: 282 µm [238-356], left eyes: 283 µm [229-351]), compared with the control group (right eyes: 249 µm [208-293], left eyes: 248 µm [207-290]). A multiple linear mixed model analysis of the EPT group revealed gestational age, retinopathy of prematurity, and male gender as important risk factors for an increased macular thickness. The macular thickness decreased by 3.9 µm per gestational week, when adjusted for retinopathy of prematurity and sex. CONCLUSION: Extremely preterm birth constitutes a substantial risk factor for a thick central macula, even when adjusted for retinopathy of prematurity and male gender.