Avascular Peripheral Retina in Infants

Avascular peripheral retina in an infant is a common characteristic of numerous pediatric retinal vascular disorders and often presents a diagnostic challenge to the clinician. In this review, key features of each disease in the differential diagnosis, from retinopathy of prematurity, familial exudative vitreoretinopathy, Coats disease, incontinentia pigmenti, Norrie disease, and persistent fetal vasculature, to other rare hematologic conditions and telomere disorders, will be discussed by expert ophthalmologists in the field

Induction of Posterior Vitreous Detachment Using Perfluorooctane Dissection in a Pediatric Patient

Background and Objective: Inducing a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) may be challenging, especially in pediatric patients with firm vitreo-retinal adherence. This case report will present an alternative method of PVD induction using adjunctive perfluorooctane (PFO). Materials and Methods: An 11-year-old boy underwent scleral buckle placement and 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy for macula-off retinal detachment. Triamcinolone acetonide was used for vitreous staining. A flexible loop was used to peel the hyaloid membrane from attached retina nasal to the optic nerve. A small hole was created in the posterior hyaloid, and a small PFO bubble was injected under the detached vitreous to further dissect it from the retina and propagate the vitreous detachment anteriorly. The vitrector was used to lift and complete the PVD peripherally. Results: PVD induction was obtained with no iatrogenic retinal breaks or postoperative complications. Conclusion: PVD induction using a stepwise PFO approach is a safe and effective alternative to conventional techniques. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2023;54:543–546.

Retinopathy of Prematurity Outcomes of Neonates Meeting only a Single Screening Criterion: Proposal of the TWO-ROP Algorithm: Single Screening Criterion for Retinopathy of Prematurity

To assess the rates of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and treatment-warranted ROP in a modern set of patients meeting zero or one of the current ROP screening criteria. Retrospective cohort study. Single-center study of 9,350 infants screened for ROP from 2009-2019. Rates of ROP and treatment-warranted ROP were evaluated in group 1 (BW < 1500g and GA ≥ 30weeks), group 2 (BW ≥ 1500g and GA < 30 weeks), and group 3 (BW ≥ 1500g and GA ≥ 30weeks). Out of 7,520 patients with reported BW and GA, 1,612 (21.4%) patients met the inclusion criteria. The number of patients in group 1, 2, and 3 was 466 (6.19%), 23 (0.31%), and 1123 (14.93%) respectively. The number of patients diagnosed with ROP was 20 (4.29%) in group 1, 1 (4.35%) in group 2, and 12 (1.07%) in group 3, P < .001. Mean interval between birth and ROP diagnosis was 36.25 days (range 12 - 75) in group 1, 47 days in group 2 and 23.33 days (range 10 - 39) in group 3 (P = .05). No cases of stage 3, zone 1 or plus disease were recorded. No patient met the treatment criteria. Patients meeting one screening criterion had a low rate of ROP (<5%), with no stage 3, zone 1, or plus disease. No patients required treatment. We propose a possible algorithm (TWO-ROP) in appropriate NICUs, with an amendment in screening protocol for this low-risk population to include only an outpatient screening exam within 1 week of discharge, or at 40 weeks if inpatient, to decrease the inpatient ROP screening burden while maintaining safety. Further external validation of this protocol would be required

The Male to Female Ratio in Treatment-Warranted Retinopathy of Prematurity: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Literature and anecdotal evidence suggest a relationship between male sex and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). It is not known whether a difference, if present, is sex-related pathophysiologic predisposition or sex difference in meeting ROP screening criteria. To evaluate the association of sex with the development of treatment-warranted ROP. PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched from 2000 to 2022. The search strategy used keywords including retinopathy of prematurity or ROP or retrolental fibroplasia and treatment or anti-VEGF or bevacizumab or ranibizumab or aflibercept or conbercept or laser or cryotherapy and gender or sex or male or female and medical subject headings terms. All studies reporting on treatment with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, laser photocoagulation, and/or cryotherapy for ROP were identified. Studies reporting sex distribution in the treatment group were included in the meta-analysis. Exclusion criteria included case reports, case series of fewer than 10 treated patients, systematic reviews, conference abstracts, letters to the editor, animal studies, and non-English records. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted the data following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The proportions of treated male and female infants were combined using random-effects meta-analysis. Numbers and percentages of male and female infants treated for ROP. Of 11 368 identified studies, 316 met inclusion criteria, yielding a total of 31 026 treated patients. A higher percentage of male infants were treated for ROP (55% [95% CI, 0.54%-0.55%]), with low heterogeneity between studies (I2 = 34%; P < .001). Thirty-eight studies reported sex distribution in the screened population (170 053 patients; 92 612 [53%] male vs 77 441 [47%] female). There was no significant difference in the odds of receiving treatment between screened male and female infants (pooled odds ratio, 1.04 [95% CI, 0.91-1.18]; P = .67). More male infants are treated for ROP than female infants. This could be due to a known relative pathophysiological fragility of preterm male infants in addition to a difference in ROP screening rates, with more male infants meeting the criteria than female infants. These findings have implications for future studies and may prompt more careful clinical monitoring of male neonates

Combined X-linked familial exudative vitreoretinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity phenotype in an infant with mosaic turner syndrome with ring X chromosome

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) are two distinct pathologies of retinal angiogenesis with overlapping clinical features. Examination, multimodal imaging, and genetic testing were used to guide diagnosis and treatment. We report a combined phenotype of X-linked FEVR and ROP in a 4-month-old girl with mosaic Turner syndrome with ring X chromosome born at 26 weeks gestational age. She was initially diagnosed with atypical ROP with a vitreous band causing a localized traction retinal detachment, inferotemporal to the macula in the right eye, vessels to posterior zone 2 with no clear ridge temporally in the left eye, and fluorescein leakage in both eyes. Due to the suspicion of concurrent FEVR, genetic testing using a vitreoretinopathy panel was performed which revealed a mosaic Turner syndrome associated with 45,X/46,X,r(X), subsequently confirmed by chromosome analysis. The deleted region in the ring X chromosome included the NDP and RS1 genes. The patient was treated with laser photocoagulation of the peripheral avascular retina and sub-Tenon's triamcinolone injection in both eyes, intravitreal injection of bevacizumab in the left eye, and pars plicata vitrectomy in the right eye. In premature neonates with atypical ROP, a clinical suspicion of concurrent FEVR or similar vasculopathy is important and genetic testing may elucidate a genetic etiology, which could influence management and prognosis. Turner syndrome can be connected with co-occurring Mendelian gene disorders, particularly in individuals with mosaicism. The concurrence of FEVR and ROP appears to result in atypical and possibly more severe phenotypes

The potential use of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in healthcare and medical research.

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are cryptographic assets recorded on the blockchain that can certify authenticity and ownership, and they can be used to monetize health data, optimize the process of receiving a hematopoietic stem cell transplant, and improve the distribution of solid organs for transplantation. Blockchain technology, including NFTs, provides equitable access to wealth, increases transparency, eliminates personal or institutional biases of intermediaries, reduces inefficiencies, and ensures accountability. Blockchain architecture is ideal for ensuring security and privacy while granting individuals jurisdiction over their own information, making it a unique solution to the current limitations of existing health information systems. NFTs can be used to give patients the option to monetize their health data and provide valuable data to researchers. Wearable technology companies can also give their customers the option to monetize their data while providing data necessary to improve their products. Additionally, the process of receiving a hematopoietic stem cell transplant and the distribution of solid organs for transplantation could benefit from the integration of NFTs into the allocation process. However, there are limitations to the technology, including high energy consumption and the need for regulatory guidance. Further research is necessary to fully understand the potential of NFTs in healthcare and how it can be integrated with existing health information technology. Overall, NFTs have the potential to revolutionize the healthcare sector, providing benefits such as improved access to health information and increased efficiency in the distribution of organs for transplantation

Practice Patterns and Outcomes of Intravitreal Anti-VEGF Injection for Retinopathy of Prematurity

To report practice patterns of intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and outcomes data with a focus on retreatments and complications. Multicenter, international, retrospective, consecutive series. Patients with ROP treated with anti-VEGF injections from 2007 to 2021. Twenfty-three sites (16 United States [US] and 7 non-US) participated. Data collected included demographics, birth characteristics, examination findings, and methods of injections. Comparisons between US and non-US sites were made. Primary outcomes included number and types of retreatments as well as complications. Secondary outcomes included specifics of the injection protocols, including types of medication, doses, distance from limbus, use of antibiotics, and quadrants where injections were delivered. A total of 1677 eyes of 918 patients (43% female, 57% male) were included. Mean gestational age was 25.7 weeks (range, 21.2–41.5 weeks), and mean birth weight was 787 g (range, 300–2700 g). Overall, a 30-gauge needle was most commonly used (51%), and the quadrant injected was most frequently the inferior-temporal (51.3%). The distance from the limbus ranged from 0.75 to 2 mm, with 1 mm being the most common (65%). Bevacizumab was the most common anti-VEGF (71.4%), with a dose of 0.625 mg in 64% of cases. Overall, 604 (36%) eyes required retreatment. Of those, 79.8% were retreated with laser alone, 10.6% with anti-VEGF injection alone, and 9.6% with combined laser and injection. Complications after anti-VEGF injections occurred in 15 (0.9%) eyes, and no cases of endophthalmitis were reported. Patients in the United States had lower birth weights and gestational ages (665.6 g and 24.5 weeks, respectively) compared with non-US patients (912.7 g and 26.9 weeks, respectively) (P < 0.0001). Retreatment with reinjection and laser was significantly more common in the US compared with the non-US group (8.5% vs. 4.7% [P = 0.0016] and 55% vs. 7.2% [P < 0.001], respectively). There was no difference in the incidence of complications between the 2 geographic subgroups. Anti-VEGF injections for ROP were safe and well tolerated despite a variance in practice patterns. Infants with ROP receiving injections in the US tended to be younger and smaller, and they were treated earlier with more retreatments than non-US neonates with ROP

Comparison in Retreatments between Bevacizumab and Ranibizumab Intravitreal Injections for Retinopathy of Prematurity

To compare the types and dosages of anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) to ascertain whether specific dosages or types of injection were associated with retreatment in clinical practice in the United States. Multicenter, retrospective, consecutive series. Patients with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) treated with anti-VEGF injections from 2007 to 2021. Sixteen sites from the United States participated. Data collected included demographics, birth characteristics, examination findings, type and dose of anti-VEGF treatment, retreatment rates, and time to retreatment. Comparisons of retreatment rates between bevacizumab and ranibizumab intravitreal injections were made. Relative rate of retreatment between varying types of anti-VEGF therapy, including bevacizumab and ranibizumab, and the various dosages used for each. Data from 873 eyes of 661 patients (61% male and 39% female) were collected. After exclusion of 40 eyes treated with laser before anti-VEGF injection and 266 eyes re-treated with laser at or beyond 8 weeks after the initial anti-VEGF treatment, 567 eyes of 307 patients (63% male and 37% female) remained and were included in the primary analysis. There was no difference between the no retreatment and retreatment groups in terms of birthweight, gestational age, age at first injection, ROP stages, or number of involved clock hours. The retreatment group had a larger percentage of aggressive ROP (34% vs. 18%, P < 0.001) and greater percentage of zone 1 ROP (49 vs. 34%, P = 0.001) than the no retreatment group. Ranibizumab use was associated with a higher rate of retreatment than bevacizumab use (58% vs. 37%, P < 0.001), whereas the rate of retreatment was not associated with a specific dose of ranibizumab (R2 = 0.67, P = 0.32). Meanwhile, lower doses of bevacizumab were associated with higher rates of retreatment compared with the higher doses (R2 = 0.84, P = 0.01). There was a dose-specific trend with higher doses trending toward lower retreatments for bevacizumab. In a multicenter study of ROP patients initially treated with anti-VEGF therapy, ranibizumab and lower-dose bevacizumab use were associated with an increased rate of retreatment when compared with higher-dose bevacizumab. Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references. This multicenter retrospective study of 567 eyes with retinopathy of prematurity showed that ranibizumab and lower-dose bevacizumab use were associated with an increased rate of re-treatment when compared with higher-dose bevacizumab