[Incidence and the progression of the acute-phase of the retinopathy of prematurity in infants hospitalized in Neonatology Department of University of Medical Sciences in Poznań].

PURPOSE: The assessment of the epidemiological data of acute-phase of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Infants with birth weights less than 1500g and birth dates between April 1, 2002, and May 30, 2003, admitted to special care baby unit in Department of Neonatology in Poznan, were examined. The incidence of retinopathy of prematurity, infants sex, multiple births, the onset of acute-phase ROP (considering the day of life and postmenstrual age) and also the day of life, at which the treatment was started, were analysed. RESULTS: Among 190 infants enrolled to the study 48.9% were female and 51.1% were male. There were 20.5% infants from multiple births. In the examined group in infants with a birth weight under 1250g the incidence of ROP was 32.6% and in infants with a birth weight above 1250g--7.4%. The ROP was diagnosed earliest in 4th week of life, the latest in 12th week of life (mean time of diagnosis the 8th week of life). The earliest time of performing the treatment with diode laser was 37th day of life, the latest--97th day of life (mean time of treatment the 67.5th day of life). CONCLUSIONS: Presented epidemiological data may be helpful in foreseeing the natural history of acute-phase of ROP in population of Polish premature infants with a birth weight under 1500g.