Our data suggest that extreme prematurity rather than IUGR is the leading cause of renal complications in ELBW population. (Study supported by the Polish Ministry of Science; grant No. N407 170734). doi:10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2010.09.237 PP-183. Severe retinopathy of prematurity, treatment and outcome Fani Anatolitou a , Helen Bouza a , Dorothea Bougioukou a , Irini Christopoulou a , Korina Karachristou b , Erasmia Iatrakou b , Georgios Pollalis c , Vasiliki Simeonidou c , Spyridon Spiropoulos c , Marina Anagnostakou a a B'neonatal Intensive Care Unit, “Aghia Sophia” Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece b A'neonatal Intensive Care Unit, “Aghia Sophia” Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece c Ophthalmology Department, “Aghia Sophia” Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece Aim Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of vision loss in premature children. Severe ROP is treated by Laser photocoagula- tion. The aim of the study was to describe the characteristics of ROP requiring treatment in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Materials and methods Preterm neonates with Gestational Age <32 weeks and Birth Weight ±1500 g were admitted in the NICU from 1/1/2006 to 31/12/ 2009 who presented ROP. Predisposing risk factors for the need of Laser treatment, findings of the retinal examination and early outcome of neonates that underwent Laser treatment were evaluated. Results 168 neonates presented ROP during the period studied. 77 (45.8%) received treatment with Laser photocoagulation. Significant risk factors contributing to the need of Laser treatment included very low Birth Weight (p=0.005), low Gestational Age (p=0.019), bronchopulmon- ary dysplasia (p = 0.007), multiple transfusions (p = 0.025), septicemia (p=0.002), and use of oxygen (p=0.045). Regarding the neonates requiring Laser treatment, the first ophthalmological examination showed: opacities of the vitreous (12 (23.5%), arteriovenous commu- nications (6 (11.5%), nonvascularised retina (4 (7.7%), ROP stage I /II 23 (44.2%) and ROP stage III 2 (3.8%). The ophthalmological examination before Laser treatment showed: stage 2+ disease 17 (22.1%), stage 3 20 (26%) and stage 3+ disease 30(39%). 60 (77.9%) of the neonates had 1 session of Laser treatment, and 14 (18.2%) had 2–3 additional sessions. 64 (83.1%) neonates had a favourable outcome after Laser treatment while 13 (16.9%) presented complications or detachment of the retina. Significant risk factors contributing to the poor outcome after Laser therapy were Birth Weight (p=0.010) and need for 2 sessions or more (p = 0.000). No significant correlation was seen between the findings of the first ophthalmological examination or the ophthalmological examination before Laser treatment and the effectiveness of the treatment in the present cohort. Conclusions ROP, leading to Laser treatment, remains an important problem for immature preterm neonates. Early assessment and intervention may improve the outcome. doi:10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2010.09.238 PP-184. Retinopathy of prematurity in ELBW neonates — Epidemiology Paulina Kobiela a , Agata Kazaniecka a , Urszula Stodolska-Koberda b , Anna Kawinska-Kilianczyk a , Iwona Domzalska-Popadiuk a a Department of Neonatology, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland b Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland Aim The aim of the study was to assess the epidemiology of ROP in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) neonates in the Department of Neonatology Medical University of Gdansk, Poland, and to analyze the correlation between ROP and factors such as oxygen level, length of oxygen therapy, blood transfusions, surfactant therapy, infections, BPD, NEC, and IVH. Materials and methods Data of 78 neonates with birth weight <1000 g treated in the Department of Neonatology Medical University of Gdansk, Poland, between years 2004 and 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. Ophthalmological examinations were repeatedly performed, starting from the 4th week after birth, every 2 weeks, unless the baby required more frequent examining. Statistical analyses were performed with Statistica PL software. Results The average body birth weight of all analyzed babies was 824.8 g, average gestational age was 27.9 weeks. There were 48 females and 30 males. More than 60% of babies were delivered through cesarean section. Bilateral ROP was diagnosed in 54% of neonates, unilateral in 5% of patients. Half of ROP neonates required laser therapy during hospitalization. Average duration of hospitalization was 78 days. 22% of babies with ROP undergone repeated laser therapy. Tunica vasculosa was observed in 46% of babies (25 to 68 days after birth) and was a serious diagnostic obstacle as half of them had ROP diagnosed only after the tunica vasculosa disappeared. Most of analyzed babies had oxygen therapy with FiO 2 >50%. Almost half of them were receiving 100% oxygen. High level of oxygen correlates with severity of ROP. Statistical significance between ROP and non- ROP neonates was found in the following factors: requirement of blood transfusions, infections, surfactant therapy, BPD, NEC, and IVH. Conclusions ROP is a serious problem in management of ELBW neonates and correlates with other complications of prematurity and its treatment. doi:10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2010.09.239 PP-185. Genome wide microarray analysis in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) — Preliminary results Jacek Jozef Pietrzyk a , Przemko Kwinta a , Anna Madetko-Talowska a , Miroslaw Bik-Multanowski a , Ola D. Saugstad b a Jagiellonian University, Chair of Pediatrics, Poland b University of Oslo, Department of Pediatric Research, Norway Aim At present ROP is the most common cause of blindness in children. Owing to the microarray technique, expression of all potential human Abstracts S91