Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40008492›Full record

ArticleActa ophthalmologica2025

The association between red blood cell transfusion timing and the development of retinopathy of prematurity: Application of the two-phase theory.

Salma El Emrani, Lizanne A Derks, Angela M Tjiam, Michaela van Bohemen, Jacqueline U M Termote, Lotte E van der Meeren, Irwin K M Reiss, H Rob Taal, Enrico Lopriore, Nicoline E Schalij-Delfos

Abstract readMulticenter Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Acta ophthalmologica, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Designing and implementing a clinical decision support tool to improve compliance with NICU transfusions.Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association · 2026
    Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Salma El EmraniDepartment of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0571-2256
Lizanne A DerksDepartment of Ophthalmology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Angela M TjiamDepartment of Ophthalmology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Michaela van BohemenDepartment of Hematology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Jacqueline U M TermoteDivision of Neonatology, Department of Women and Neonate, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Lotte E van der MeerenDepartment of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Irwin K M ReissDivision of Neonatology, Department of Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
H Rob TaalDivision of Neonatology, Department of Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Enrico LoprioreDivision of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Nicoline E Schalij-DelfosDepartment of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Funding

ODAS Stichting 2021-32327
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeRed blood cell (RBC) transfusions are believed to be associated with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), but the underlying mechanism is not fully understood, partly due to the lack of information on RBC transfusion timing. The aim was to determine the association between the timing and amount of RBC transfusions and the development and severity of ROP.

methodsThis retrospective dual-center cohort study included 1177 neonates born in 2004-2022 with a gestational age at birth ≤28 weeks. Primary outcomes were any stage ROP and severe ROP based on maximum staging. Phase I of ROP was defined as ≤32.0 weeks postmenstrual age and phase II as >32.0 weeks postmenstrual age. Logistic regression analyses were adjusted for gestational age at birth, small for gestational age, mechanical ventilation duration, postnatal corticosteroids, sepsis, and necrotizing enterocolitis.

resultsMultivariate analysis showed independent associations with severe ROP for RBC transfusion (OR 5.1; 95% CI 1.8-14.3), number of RBC transfusions (OR 1.2; 95% CI 1.1-1.3), RBC transfusion in phase I (OR 2.5; 95% CI 1.2-5.3), number of RBC transfusions in phase I (OR 1.2; 95% CI 1.0-1.3), RBC transfusion in phase II (OR 4.1; 95% CI 2.7-6.3) and number of RBC transfusions in phase II (OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.5-2.4).

conclusionBased on maximum ROP staging, RBC transfusions in phases I and II are both associated with a high risk of severe ROP. A randomized controlled trial is urgently needed to determine the potential effect of RBC transfusions in phase II on ROP progression.

Indexed as

Erythrocyte TransfusionRetinopathy of PrematurityFemaleFollow-Up StudiesGestational AgeHumansIncidenceInfant, NewbornMaleRetrospective StudiesRisk FactorsTime Factorsangiogenesisblood transfusionretinopathy of prematurityrisk factors

Identifiers

PMID40008492
PMCPMC12340170

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.