Abstract
ROP pathogenesis involves multiple factors including local VEGF production and systemic IGF-1 levels. We conducted a prospective cohort study to determine the role of serum IGF-1 levels and post-natal growth failure in predicting the risk of ROP in babies <1500 grams and <34 weeks of gestation. Weekly birth weight was estimated and monitored using growth charts. Growth failure was diagnosed based on Z score. Blood sample for IGF-1 estimation was collected between 30-33 weeks. ROP incidence was 49.5 %. Gestational age (p<0.001), birth weight (p<0.001), low APGAR score (p=0.008), mechanical ventilation (p<0.001), low weight gain per week (p<0.001), post-natal growth failure (p=0.004) and low IGF-1 levels (p=0.002) were associated with ROP development. The area under the curve of ROC for IGF-1 levels and postnatal weight gain was >0.5 implying that these parameters have a considerable amount of diagnostic accuracy in predicting ROP.
