RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To assess whether preretinal hemorrhage (PRH) is associated with the presence and severity of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in high-risk patients. METHOD: Prospective cohort study, patients referred to the Department of Ophthalmology for ROP screening during October-November 2016 were evaluated weekly on 4 occasions to assess the relationship with PRH and the development of ROP as well as degree of severity associated. We used absolute, median frequencies with minimum and maximum values, χ2 test and Mann-Whitney U-test, as well as relative risk with 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: A total of 30 patients, in the first week 11 females (36%) and 4 males (13%) had PRH; in the 2nd week 13 patients (43%) presented PRH and 14 (46%) developed ROP; on the 3rd week there were no changes; in the last week 8 presented HPR (26%) and 11 patients (36%) with ROP. Stage I severity occurred more frequently. Statistical significance (p = 0.040) was found in the presence of PRH and the development of ROP in the first week with. CONCLUSIONS: HPR is a risk factor for the development of ROP during the first weeks of life and is associated with stages of mild severity.