XF Yang, B Ze, Y Dai, L Zhu, C Chen

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relationship between cytokines serum levels at postnatal 4-6 weeks and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Method: Six premature infants having stage 2 or more ROP were enrolled as ROP group and four premature infants without ROP as the control group. The factors including gestational age, birth weight and gender were not significantly different in the two groups. Human antibody arrays were used, including 507 cytokines, to identify which cytokine serum levels were different in ROP group and control group at 4-6 weeks postnatal age. SPSS 16.0 was carried out to analyse the data. Result: The serum levels of 26 cytokines in ROP group are significantly different from those in the control group at 4-6 weeks postnatal age by AAH-BLG-1, including chemotacic factors, inflammatory factors etc. Eighteen cytokines serum levels were higher and 8 were lower in ROP group. Conclusion: The serum levels of cytokines at 4-6 weeks postnatal age are related to ROP, including chemotacic factors, inflammatory factors etc.