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Low IGF-1 associated with ROP, other complications of premature birth

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Low serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 in premature infants are associated with the development of retinopathy of prematurity, according to a Swedish study. The level of this growth factor may be as strong a determinant for development of retinopathy of prematurity as gestational age at birth and birthweight, the study suggests.

To examine the significance of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in the ROP, Ann Hellstrom, MD, PhD, and colleagues measured the serum IGF-1 concentrations weekly in 84 infants born prematurely from time of birth until discharge from the hospital. Gestational ages ranged from 24 to 32 weeks.

Low serum IGF-1 levels were consistent with a later onset of ROP, the authors found. The duration of the low IGF-1 levels also correlated strongly with the severity of ROP. The mean interval from birth until serum IGF-1 levels reached more than 33 µg/L was 23 days for infants with no ROP, 44 days for those with moderate ROP and 52 days for those with severe ROP. Each adjusted stepwise increase of 5 µg/L in mean IGF-1 during gestational ages 30 to 33 weeks decreased the risk of proliferative ROP by 45%.

The study is published in the November issue of Pediatrics.