Abstract
Purpose :
To investigate plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and apelin levels in infants with or without retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).
Methods :
Fifty-five preterm infants with ROP and 12 preterm infants without ROP were enrolled. Infants with ROP were divided into mild group and severe group. Analysis included evaluation of basic clinical conditions and measurement of plasma VEGF and apelin concentrations using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).
Results :
Plasma VEGF level was lower in infants with ROP (P=0.011), while plasma apelin level was higher in infants with ROP (P=0.008). Plasma apelin had negative correlation with plasma VEGF. Meanwhile, plasma apelin increased statistically significantly in severe ROP (P=0.018, r=0.319).
Conclusions :
Plasma apelin level was increased markedly in infants with ROP, while plasma VEGF level decreased. Severe ROP has elevated plasma levels of apelin.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.