Proteomic Profile in Retinopathy of Prematurity

Are early longitudinal changes in proteomic profiles in extremely preterm infants associated with the development of severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)?In this secondary analysis of the Mega Donna Mega (MDM) randomized clinical trial including 177 extremely preterm infants, a faster rise in blood levels of the metabolic stress-induced protein fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) in the first postnatal days distinguished extremely preterm infants who later developed severe ROP. FGF-21 levels were associated with the infant’s degree of immaturity at birth, low enteral energy intake, and days receiving mechanical ventilation.This study found that an early fast postnatal rise in FGF-21 levels may reflect metabolic and environmental stress influencing ROP pathogenesis, and improving bioenergetics may help prevent severe ROP.

Corresponding Authors: Pia Lundgren, MD, PhD, The Sahlgrenska Centre for Pediatric Ophthalmology Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Neurosciences and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, S-416 85 Sweden (pia.lundgren@gu.se); Hanna Danielsson, MSc, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Widerströmska huset, Tomtebodavägen 18A, Stockholm, S-171 77, Sweden (hanna.danielsson@ki.se).

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