frequency and severity of retinopathy of prematurity: singleton versus multiple-births

purpose: to determine the frequency and severity of retinopathy of prematurity (rop) among singleton and multiple-birth neonates referred to farabi eye hospital, tehran-iran. methods: we reviewed the records of 99 consecutive neonates from multiple-gestation pregnancies including 68 twins, 26 triplets and 5 quadruplets who were screened for rop during 2002-2004. the frequency, severity and risk factors of rop were determined. the results were compared with a group of singletons who did not differ from the multiple-birth group regarding birth weight, gestational age, oxygen therapy, respiratory distress syndrome, transfusion, sepsis, phototherapy and gender. results: rop was present in 12.1% of multiple-birth neonates compared to 15.1% in singletons (p=0.53). threshold rop was present in 6.1% of multiple-birth neonates and 7.1% of singletons (p=0.62). rop was detected in 60% of quadruplets vs 9.6% of twins and triplets with threshold disease in 40% of quadruplets compared to 4.2% in twins and triplets. logistic regression analysis revealed no statistically significant differences in frequency and severity of rop among subgroups of multiple-gestation pregnancies (p= 0.79). conclusion: the higher frequency of rop among multiple-birth neonates is due to lower birth weight and gestational age but there is no significant difference between multiple-births and singletons in terms of frequency and stages of rop. screening for rop in multiple pregnancy births may be conducted according to the same standard protocols as for singletons.