PriMera Scientific Surgical Research and Practice (ISSN: 2836-0028)

Research Article

Volume 4 Issue 6

Role of Vitamin-A regarding Prevention of Retinopathy of Prematurity among Pre-term Babies

Nasrin Akther, Md Mahbubul Hoque* and Abdullah Ibn Nurul Islam

November 26, 2024

Abstract

Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a Vasoproliferative disorder of the eye affecting preterm infants and is a leading cause of preventable blindness. Vitamin A -retinoids and their active metabolite, retinoic acid has highly potent antiangiogenic activity by inhibiting VEGF expression at the neovascularization phase. Objectives: To evaluate preventive effect of vitamin A on ROP. Materials and method: This randomized controlled trial study was conducted in the Neonatology Department of Dhaka Shishu Hospital among the preterm neonates of 32-34 completed weeks of gestation and also those neonates whose 1st ROP screening showed peripheral avascular zone irrespective of gestational age from July 2018 to June 2020. Initially 228 preterm neonates were enrolled in this study. Among them 164 preterm neonates were randomly allocated in vitamin A group (82) and control group (82).  Vitamin A group received vitamin A drop perorally (5000 IU/Kg/day), added to their enteral feeds as soon as minimal feeding was introduced and continued from starting point to 4 weeks and dose of vitamin A also adjusted with multivitamin drop when vitamin A group had to be given multivitamin drop. Control group had been given multivitamin drop from 2 weeks of age. Out of these, 6 neonates died, 1 neonate shifted to another hospital and 9 neonates did not come for follow up after discharge. So finally, 148 neonates were completed this study. Results: This paper shows oxygen therapy 53.9% in vitamin A group and 76.4% in control group with highly significant (p<0.01) difference found between two groups. Septicemia 36.8% in vitamin A group and 55.6% in control group with significant (p<0.05) difference found between two groups. Study shows ROP present 48.8% in vitamin A group with oxygen therapy and 78.2% in control group with oxygen therapy which was statistically highly significant (p<0.01). Research shows ROP present 64.3% in vitamin A group with septicemia and 85% in control group with septicemia which was statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: Vitamin A supplementation prevents retinopathy of prematurity in preterm babies.

Keywords: Vitamin A; Retinopathy of prematurity; Pre-term baby

References

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