Parenteral nutrition use and recurrence requiring retreatment of retinopathy of prematurity after anti-VEGF monotherapy: a retrospective cohort study of preterm infants

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) poses a significant threat to the vision of premature infants worldwide. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents have been effective in treating ROP; however, treatment failure or recurrence remains a challenge. This study aims to investigate the relationship between potential risk factors and ROP recurrent requiring retreatment. In our retrospective cohort of 96 premature infants (187 eyes) treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF injections at a tertiary center from 2010 to 2015, we analyzed perinatal, nutritional, and ocular variables. ROP recurrence requiring retreatment occurred in 14.6% of patients. Our findings revealed that parenteral nutrition use during initial management was significantly correlated (p = 0.020), with a fourfold increased risk (OR = 4.400, 95% CI: 1.261–15.359) of retreatment in multivariable analysis. In this retrospective cohort, continued use of parenteral nutrition at the time of anti-VEGF treatment was associated with recurrence requiring retreatment in premature infants.