Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Health Sciences University, Kanuni Training and Research Hospital, Trabzon 61000, Turkey.
Department of Ophthalmology, Health Sciences University, Kanuni Training and Research Hospital, Trabzon 61000, Turkey.
J Trop Pediatr. 2022 Apr 5;68(3). doi: 10.1093/tropej/fmac036.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 can cause microvascular alterations that can lead to irreversible complications in multiple tissues and organs. Detrimental effects of COVID-19 on retinal structure have recently been reported in adult population. However, literature data about neonatal population is very scarce. Thus, we aimed to assess possible retinal changes of neonates recovered from COVID-19 infection in this prospective, observational, descriptive study.
The neonates recovered from COVID-19 infection were included to the study between 01 September 2020 and 30 April 2021. Their initial ophthalmological examination was made after a negative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction obtained and all patients were re-examined 1 month later. All examinations were performed by same retina specialist using a binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy.
A total of 15 neonates [9 (60%) male, 6 (40%) female, mean gestational age of 38.9 ± 0.9 weeks (ranging from 37 to 40 week)] were evaluated in the study. The mean age at the time of hospitalization was 17.5 ± 8.7 days (ranging from 2 to 29 days), and the mean duration of hospitalization was 12.5 ± 6.2 days (ranging from 4 to 27 days). Except for one patient with bilateral avascular area in Zone-III, no further retinal manifestation related to COVID-19 was found in the study.
COVID-19 infection can cause retinal damage in neonates. Therefore, these patients should be closely monitored for signs of ocular involvement.
由严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒 2 引起的 2019 年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）可引起微血管改变，从而导致多个组织和器官的不可逆转并发症。最近有研究报道 COVID-19 对成年人群视网膜结构有不利影响。然而，关于新生儿人群的文献数据非常有限。因此，我们旨在评估 COVID-19 感染后康复的新生儿可能出现的视网膜变化，这是一项前瞻性、观察性、描述性研究。
本研究纳入了 2020 年 9 月 1 日至 2021 年 4 月 30 日期间从 COVID-19 感染中康复的新生儿。在获得实时逆转录-聚合酶链反应阴性后，对他们进行了初次眼科检查，所有患者在 1 个月后再次进行检查。所有检查均由同一位视网膜专家使用双目间接检眼镜进行。
本研究共评估了 15 名新生儿[9 名（60%）男性，6 名（40%）女性，平均胎龄为 38.9±0.9 周（范围为 37 周至 40 周）]。住院时的平均年龄为 17.5±8.7 天（范围为 2 至 29 天），平均住院时间为 12.5±6.2 天（范围为 4 至 27 天）。除 1 名患者出现三区双侧无血管区外，研究中未发现与 COVID-19 相关的其他视网膜表现。
COVID-19 感染可导致新生儿视网膜损伤。因此，应对这些患者进行密切监测，以发现眼部受累的迹象。
