Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), pregnancy and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)
A. Dan, V. Horhoianu
Rezumat: Background. Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a late
complication that affects the visual function of very low
weight premature babies; it represents a disturbance in the
retinal
vascular proliferation caused by the intervention of
pre- or postnatal
factors on the immature retina. It is not
yet known why apprroximately 90% of the cases evolves
to spontaneous resolution
and 10% of the cases progress
to severe structural anomalies
(retinal detachement) and
blindness. Objective. To validate the hypothesis that nutritional
status of the premature babies and blood level
of insulin growth factor
(IGF1) can contribute to the wide
variability of this complication of prematurity. Method. In the
Neonatology Department of Bucharest University Hospital
we performed a prospective 6-month study (February - July
2017) on a group of patients with gestational age of 34 weeks
or below; all babies were submitted to the standard ophtalmologic
examination and were also tested for blood level of
IGF1. The comparison of the tests results aimed to confirm
if there was a correlation between the blood level of IGF1
and the incidence or gravity of ROP. Results. Serum values
of IGF1 at birth and in the first week of life correlate with the
nutritional status of the newborn, but do not correlate with
the risk for developing ROP. Succesive weekly measurements
showed that the values of IGF1 serum level are significantly
different between patients with ROP compared with those
who did not develop this complication.Conclusion. The
absolute values of serum IGF1 at any time cannot be considered
predictive factors for ROP, but the failure of serum
IGF1 to increase after birth and poor postnatal weight gain
have proved to be correlated with higher risk. Although our
study was performed on a small number of patients, due to
financial and administrative constraints, we consider that it
would be useful to validate its conclusions by future extended
researches, involving regional or even national data. Cuvinte cheie: rethinopahy of prematurity, IGF1, postnatal weight gain