The Serum Levels of Asymmetric Dimethylarginine, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, and Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 in Preterms with Retinopathy of Prematurity

Fetal Pediatr Pathol. 2022 Aug;41(4):634-639. doi: 10.1080/15513815.2021.1948644. Epub 2021 Jul 22.

Abstract

Objective:To determine the serum levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in preterms with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Materials and Methods: We included 37 preterm infants. The first blood samples were obtained within the first 5 days of life and repeated at the time of the first ophthalmologic examination for ROP. The levels of ADMA, IGF-1, and VEGF were measured in all samples. Results: ROP was detected in 12 of the subjects (32.4%). We categorized the subjects as non-ROP (Group 1; n = 25), untreated ROP (Group 2; n = 7), and treated ROP (Group 3; n = 5) according to the eye findings. There were no significant differences among the groups for serum levels of ADMA, VEGF, and IGF-1 at the first sampling. Conclusion: We did not find any differences in terms of serum ADMA, IGF-1, and VEGF levels in preterm infants with or without ROP.

Keywords: Asymmetric dimethylarginine; insulin-like growth factor-1; retinopathy of prematurity; vascular endothelial growth factor.

MeSH terms

  • Arginine / analogs & derivatives
  • Gestational Age
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Newborn, Diseases*
  • Infant, Premature
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / metabolism
  • Retinopathy of Prematurity* / diagnosis
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Substances

  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • N,N-dimethylarginine
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
  • Arginine