{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Correlation between apelin and VEGF levels in retinopathy of prematurity: a matched case-control study.
{Author}: Zhang Y;Feng J;Shao S;Mu Q;Liu J;Zeng C;Zhang X;Zhang Y;Feng J;Shao S;Mu Q;Liu J;Zeng C;Zhang X;
{Journal}: BMC Ophthalmol
{Volume}: 22
{Issue}: 1
{Year}: Aug 2022 11
{Factor}: 2.086
{DOI}: 10.1186/s12886-022-02565-x
{Abstract}: BACKGROUND: Although several clinical studies have analysed the relationship between the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and apelin-13 in venous blood and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), no definitive conclusions have been reached. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between apelin-13 levels and VEGF levels and ROP.
METHODS: Differences in plasma apelin-13 and VEGF levels were analysed in two groups of infants born with birth weight < 1500 g and gestational age < 32 weeks at Peking University People' s Hospital. One group comprised infants diagnosed with ROP and the other group was a control group comprising infants without ROP.
RESULTS: Apelin-13 levels were significantly lower in the ROP group than in the control group, while VEGF levels showed the opposite result (both P < 0.001). Infants with severe ROP had lower apelin-13 levels and higher VEGF levels than with mild ROP (both P < 0.05).The receiver operating characteristic curve for apelin-13 level as the indicator of ROP showed that a cut-off value of 119.6 pg/mL yielded a sensitivity of 84.8% and a specificity of 63.6%, while for VEGF level, the cut-off value of 84.3 pg/mL exhibited a sensitivity of 84.8% and a specificity of 66.7%.
CONCLUSIONS: Plasma apelin-13 and VEGF levels at 4-6 weeks of age may play a role in assisting the diagnosis of ROP.