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IGF-I and visfatin levels in retinopathy of prematurity.

PURPOSE
The authors hypothesized that circulating visfatin concentrations in preterm infants might be linked with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)-like insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) levels.


METHODS
The study group comprised 88 children born with a gestational age younger than 32 weeks between 2007 and 2009 who were screened and/or treated for ROP. The authors collected fetal cord blood (sample 1) and a blood sample at 4 to 6 weeks postnatal age (sample 2) for laboratory investigations.


RESULTS
The non-ROP group had higher visfatin-1, visfatin-2, insulin-1, insulin-2, (IGF-I)-1, and (IGF-I)-2 levels than the ROP group (P < .001 for all levels). Change in visfatin was positively correlated with change in IGF-I and change in insulin (P < .001 and P < .001, respectively). Change in IGF-I was positively correlated with change in insulin (P < .001).


CONCLUSION
Similar to IGF-I levels, determination of visfatin levels can be a predictive marker of ROP, but more studies are needed.