Etiopathogenesis in Retinopathy of Prematurity

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a potentially blinding diasease associated with low gestational age and birth weight. Supression of growth factors due to hyperoxia and loss of maternal-fetal interaction cause impaired develpoment of retinal vascularization. Subsequently, an increase in metabolic demands and inadequate vascularization lead to hypoxia that triggers pathologic neovascularization process, which may lead to detachment in retinal tissue. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has a key role both physiologic and pathologic vascularization. Based upon in animal models of oxygen induced retinopthy (OIR) exogenous factors like oxygen levels, oxidative stress, inflammation and cytokines, several signaling pathways and their receptors have been linked to pathogenesis of ROP, as well.