COMPARISON BETWEEN ORAL AND INTRAVENOUS ULTRAWIDE-FIELD FLUORESCEIN ANGIOGRAPHY IN THE CLINICAL FOLLOW-UP OF CHILDREN WITH A HISTORY OF RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY OR PREMATURITY

Purpose: To compare between oral and intravenous (IV) ultrawide-field fluorescein angiography in pediatric patients with a history of prematurity of retinopathy or prematurity. Methods: Pediatric patients (<18 year old; n = 107 patients) who underwent ultrawide-field fluorescein angiography for retinopathy of prematurity were categorized into oral and IV fluorescein angiography (FA) groups. Quality of FA images was graded on the order of retinal vessels visible. Reported outcomes were proportions of graded FA images, peak fluorescein intensity, and the time to first dye appearance and to reach peak fluorescence. Results: Image quality analysis revealed that 91.5% of IV FA images had excellent image quality compared with only 55.6% of oral FA images (P < 0.01). There were still 83.3% of oral-contrast images with good or excellent image quality. The average time required for first dye appearance and peak fluorescence were significantly shorter in the IV FA group than in the oral FA group (P < 0.01). Peak intensity was greater in the IV group (141.41 +/- 29.09) than in the oral group (111.25 +/- 45.68; P < 0.01). Adverse reaction rates were similar between the two groups (P = 0.22). Conclusion: Ultrawide-field fluorescein angiography provides excellent-quality imaging of the retina in the pediatric population. Overall, oral FA is still an effective and useful alternative to IV FA in children with prematurity history.

Automated summary

In pediatric patients with a history of prematurity, intravenous ultrawide-field fluorescein angiography (IV FA) provides superior image quality, shorter time to dye appearance and peak fluorescence, and higher peak intensity compared to oral FA. However, oral FA remains an effective and useful alternative in this population.