Blood flow assessed by color Doppler imaging in retinopathy of prematurity

Objective:to quantify central retinal arterial and venous blood flow using ultrasound color doppler imaging.study design:in this prospective observational study, eyes of eight preterm infants with retinopathy of prematurity stage 2 and of eight preterm infants without retinopathy (gestational age <30 weeks, birth weight <1500 g) were evaluated by color doppler imaging.result:ocular blood flow velocities measured at 28±1 days of life did not differ significantly in the eyes of preterm infants who subsequently did and did not develop retinopathy. development of retinopathy was associated with highly significant (p<0.0001 each) increases in central retinal vein maximum velocities (from 1.99±0.36 to 3.72±0.61 cm s−1), central retinal artery systolic flow velocities (from 6.44±1.52 to 9.87±1.99 cm s−1) and flow velocity integrals (from 1.27±0.30 to 2.17±0.50 cm) at 64±13 days of life. in infants without retinopathy, no significant changes were observed except for an increase in central retinal vein maximum velocities (from 1.96±0.22 to 2.62±0.44 cm s−1, p=0.003).conclusion:retinopathy of prematurity appears to be accompanied by increased retinal blood flow.