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β-Blocking and Racial Variation in the Severity of Retinopathy of Prematurity

β-Blocking and Racial Variation in the Severity of Retinopathy of Prematurity In the Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity Study, the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) was the same among African American and non–African American infants; however, once ROP was observed, the incidence of progression to severe (prethreshold) ROP occurred more commonly among non–African American infants.1 Herein, we expand on these findings and present a possible cause and research approach focused on prevention of some cases of severe ROP. Methods Infants weighing less than 1251 g were logged at each participating center. These infants were followed up for the development of ROP and its progression in severity by study-certified ophthalmologists. We report the incidence of progression from the onset of ROP to type 1 ROP2 in at least 1 eye by birth weight and race. Type 1 is defined as zone I ROP at any stage with plus disease, as zone I stage 3 ROP, or as zone II stage 2 or 3 ROP with plus disease. Results The Table shows the percentage of infants by birth weight (<750, 750-999, and ≥1000 g) who had any ROP and the percentage who developed type 1 disease. The estimated incidences of ROP for both African American and non–African American infants weighing less than 1251 g at birth were essentially the same, 68%.1 However, the proportions of consented infants with ROP who ultimately developed type 1 ROP differed significantly. Non–African American infants had a much higher incidence of type 1 ROP in all weight categories and overall compared with African American infants (overall, 20.9% vs 8.6%, respectively; P < .001). Comment In this large study of infants weighing less than 1251 g at birth, a striking reduction in type 1 ROP is seen in African American infants. A similar finding for prethreshold ROP has also been reported in the Cryotherapy for Retinopathy of Prematurity Study.3 One mechanism to explain some of the observed racial differences in ROP invokes β-blocker receptor polymorphisms, which exist in many African American people. The effect of such polymorphisms renders the person “β-blocked.”4 If this β-blockade status were protective for ROP, then it could be a reason for the relative immunity to severe disease seen in many African American infants. More importantly, it would suggest that treatment with a β-blocker for infants devoid of β-adrenergic receptor polymorphisms could be beneficial. This polymorphism theory is supported by recent reports indicating an association of cutaneous hemangiomas with ROP and a possible common pathogenesis.5 Cutaneous hemangiomas show a dramatic reduction with treatment using systemic β-blockers.6 Cutaneous hemangiomas are far more common in white infants and are very uncommon in African American infants, again suggesting that β-blocker receptor polymorphisms could influence angiogenesis and prevent hemangiomas. β-Adrenergic receptors exist on retinal endothelial cells. However, the exact mechanisms or effects of β-adrenergic receptor blockers on blood vessel growth have not been elucidated. Prevention is the next frontier in ROP research. It is highly plausible that β-blockers could be effective in preventing ROP. Pharmacokinetic studies indicate that topical betaxolol hydrochloride shows good ocular penetration and reaches the posterior aspect of the eye in good concentrations. By studying the effects of topical betaxolol in infants with birth weight less than 1000 g, we will focus on infants particularly likely to develop ROP. However, any study of the effects of β-blocker therapy must address the fragility of the patients to be tested and possible systemic and ocular adverse effects. Nevertheless, if topical β-blockers prove to be effective in preventing some cases of ROP, this opens the door for a more individualized approach to prevention of the disease, eg, using β-adrenergic receptor polymorphisms to guide ROP management. Back to top Article Information Correspondence: Dr Good, Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, 2318 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115 (good@ski.org). Financial Disclosure: None reported. Funding/Support: This work was supported by grants 5U10 EY12471 and 5U10 EY12472 from the National Institutes of Health. Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00027222 References 1. Good WV, Hardy RJ, Dobson V, et al; Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity Cooperative Group. The incidence and course of retinopathy of prematurity: findings from the Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity Study. Pediatrics. 2005;116(1):15-2315995025PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 2. Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity Cooperative Group. Revised indications for the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity: results of the Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity randomized trial. Arch Ophthalmol. 2003;121(12):1684-169414662586PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 3. Saunders RA, Donahue ML, Christmann LM, et al; Cryotherapy for Retinopathy of Prematurity Cooperative Group. Racial variation in retinopathy of prematurity. Arch Ophthalmol. 1997;115(5):604-6089152127PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 4. Liggett SB, Cresci S, Kelly RJ, et al. A GRK5 polymorphism that inhibits beta-adrenergic receptor signaling is protective in heart failure. Nat Med. 2008;14(5):510-51718425130PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 5. Praveen V, Vidavalur R, Rosenkrantz TS, Hussain N. Infantile hemangiomas and retinopathy of prematurity: possible association. Pediatrics. 2009;123(3):e484-e48919221153PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 6. Léauté-Labrèze C, Dumas de la Roque E, Hubiche T, Boralevi F, Thambo JB, Taïeb A. Propranolol for severe hemangiomas of infancy. N Engl J Med. 2008;358(24):2649-265118550886PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Archives of Ophthalmology American Medical Association

β-Blocking and Racial Variation in the Severity of Retinopathy of Prematurity

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References (10)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 2012 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0003-9950
eISSN
1538-3687
DOI
10.1001/archopht.130.1.117
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Abstract

In the Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity Study, the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) was the same among African American and non–African American infants; however, once ROP was observed, the incidence of progression to severe (prethreshold) ROP occurred more commonly among non–African American infants.1 Herein, we expand on these findings and present a possible cause and research approach focused on prevention of some cases of severe ROP. Methods Infants weighing less than 1251 g were logged at each participating center. These infants were followed up for the development of ROP and its progression in severity by study-certified ophthalmologists. We report the incidence of progression from the onset of ROP to type 1 ROP2 in at least 1 eye by birth weight and race. Type 1 is defined as zone I ROP at any stage with plus disease, as zone I stage 3 ROP, or as zone II stage 2 or 3 ROP with plus disease. Results The Table shows the percentage of infants by birth weight (<750, 750-999, and ≥1000 g) who had any ROP and the percentage who developed type 1 disease. The estimated incidences of ROP for both African American and non–African American infants weighing less than 1251 g at birth were essentially the same, 68%.1 However, the proportions of consented infants with ROP who ultimately developed type 1 ROP differed significantly. Non–African American infants had a much higher incidence of type 1 ROP in all weight categories and overall compared with African American infants (overall, 20.9% vs 8.6%, respectively; P < .001). Comment In this large study of infants weighing less than 1251 g at birth, a striking reduction in type 1 ROP is seen in African American infants. A similar finding for prethreshold ROP has also been reported in the Cryotherapy for Retinopathy of Prematurity Study.3 One mechanism to explain some of the observed racial differences in ROP invokes β-blocker receptor polymorphisms, which exist in many African American people. The effect of such polymorphisms renders the person “β-blocked.”4 If this β-blockade status were protective for ROP, then it could be a reason for the relative immunity to severe disease seen in many African American infants. More importantly, it would suggest that treatment with a β-blocker for infants devoid of β-adrenergic receptor polymorphisms could be beneficial. This polymorphism theory is supported by recent reports indicating an association of cutaneous hemangiomas with ROP and a possible common pathogenesis.5 Cutaneous hemangiomas show a dramatic reduction with treatment using systemic β-blockers.6 Cutaneous hemangiomas are far more common in white infants and are very uncommon in African American infants, again suggesting that β-blocker receptor polymorphisms could influence angiogenesis and prevent hemangiomas. β-Adrenergic receptors exist on retinal endothelial cells. However, the exact mechanisms or effects of β-adrenergic receptor blockers on blood vessel growth have not been elucidated. Prevention is the next frontier in ROP research. It is highly plausible that β-blockers could be effective in preventing ROP. Pharmacokinetic studies indicate that topical betaxolol hydrochloride shows good ocular penetration and reaches the posterior aspect of the eye in good concentrations. By studying the effects of topical betaxolol in infants with birth weight less than 1000 g, we will focus on infants particularly likely to develop ROP. However, any study of the effects of β-blocker therapy must address the fragility of the patients to be tested and possible systemic and ocular adverse effects. Nevertheless, if topical β-blockers prove to be effective in preventing some cases of ROP, this opens the door for a more individualized approach to prevention of the disease, eg, using β-adrenergic receptor polymorphisms to guide ROP management. Back to top Article Information Correspondence: Dr Good, Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, 2318 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115 (good@ski.org). Financial Disclosure: None reported. Funding/Support: This work was supported by grants 5U10 EY12471 and 5U10 EY12472 from the National Institutes of Health. Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00027222 References 1. Good WV, Hardy RJ, Dobson V, et al; Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity Cooperative Group. The incidence and course of retinopathy of prematurity: findings from the Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity Study. Pediatrics. 2005;116(1):15-2315995025PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 2. Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity Cooperative Group. Revised indications for the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity: results of the Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity randomized trial. Arch Ophthalmol. 2003;121(12):1684-169414662586PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 3. Saunders RA, Donahue ML, Christmann LM, et al; Cryotherapy for Retinopathy of Prematurity Cooperative Group. Racial variation in retinopathy of prematurity. Arch Ophthalmol. 1997;115(5):604-6089152127PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 4. Liggett SB, Cresci S, Kelly RJ, et al. A GRK5 polymorphism that inhibits beta-adrenergic receptor signaling is protective in heart failure. Nat Med. 2008;14(5):510-51718425130PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 5. Praveen V, Vidavalur R, Rosenkrantz TS, Hussain N. Infantile hemangiomas and retinopathy of prematurity: possible association. Pediatrics. 2009;123(3):e484-e48919221153PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 6. Léauté-Labrèze C, Dumas de la Roque E, Hubiche T, Boralevi F, Thambo JB, Taïeb A. Propranolol for severe hemangiomas of infancy. N Engl J Med. 2008;358(24):2649-265118550886PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref

Journal

Archives of Ophthalmology – American Medical Association

Published: Jan 9, 2012

Keywords: retinopathy of prematurity

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