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.

Evaluation of macular structure and thickness using spectral optical coherence tomography SOCT Spectralis in children after prior laser photocoagulation performed due to the retinopathy of prematurity. / Ocena struktury i grubosci siatkówki w okolicy plamkowej za pomoca spektralnej optycznej koherentnej tomografii SOCT Spectralis u dzieci po przebytej laserokoagulacji siatkówki z powodu retinopatii wczesniaków.

Objectives: To evaluate morphobiometric properties of the macula (its structure and thickness) in children with a known history of retinopathy of prematurity using optical coherence tomography (SLO/OCT Spectralis). Material and methods: 16 subjects (group B1) (mean age 9.2 years) with a history of stage 3 retinopathy of prematurity treated with retinal laser photocoagulation and 18 subjects (group B2) with a history of spontaneously regressing retinopathy of prematurity (mean age 10.2 years) were studied prospectively. The control group consisted of 21 healthy subjects (group K) (mean age 10.9 years). Each participant underwent a thorough ocular examination and had an optical coherence tomography performed. The U Mann-Whitney and Spearman's rank correlation tests were used for statistical analyses. Results: The minimum central foveal thickness and total macular volume were significantly higher in both study groups (B1 and B2) as compared to the control group (K). The subfoveal choroidal thickness was reduced in both study groups (B1 and B2), as compared to the control group (K). Conclusions: The altered macular structure in eyes with the history of retinopathy of prematurity is related to the presence of all retinal layers within the fovea. However, these changes do not significantly affect visual acuity.

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.