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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Journal of Child Science 2017; 07(01): e151-e154
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1612596
Original Article
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A Levels in Term Neonates

Yogavijayan Kandasamy
1   Department of Neonatology, Townsville Hospital, Queensland, Australia
2   Mothers and Babies Research Centre, Hunter Medical Research Institute, John Hunter Hospital, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
3   College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Douglas, Queensland, Australia
,
Leo Hartley
4   Department of Optometry and Vision Science, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
,
Donna Rudd
3   College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Douglas, Queensland, Australia
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

11 July 2017

30 October 2017

Publication Date:
18 December 2017 (online)

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Abstract

Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) plays an integral role in physiological and pathophysiological angiogenesis and has increasingly been implicated in the development of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm infants. Application of intravitreal anti-VEGF is frequently used to treat ROP with little consideration given to the role of VEGF-A in neonatal growth and development. Previous studies have demonstrated systemic anti-VEGF persistence, reduced peripheral VEGF levels following treatment, and possible diagnostic and prognostic uses for VEGF-A determination. This study seeks to determine a normal range for serum VEGF-A (sVEGF-A) in healthy, term infants. The sVEGF-A levels were obtained from 32 neonates born at term infants (16 males and 16 females) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. No significant correlations were found between sVEGF-A levels and time of sample collection, birth weight, or gender. The median sVEGF-A level was 976 (394–1635) pg/mL (95% confidence interval for median: 496–1,318 pg/mL). This preliminary study determines a normal range for the sVEGF-A level in healthy, term neonates. This normal range will provide a tool to assist in the diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of treatment of infants with ROP.

Keywords

vascular endothelial growth factor - term - neonates

Note

Consent was obtained from parents of all participants included in the study. This study was approved by the Townsville Health District Human Research Ethics Committee.


Authors' Contributions

Y.K. was involved in the study design, sample collection, data analysis, and preparation of manuscript and approval of final draft. D.R. was involved in sample analysis, data interpretation, manuscript preparation, and approval of final draft. L.H. was involved in study design, data analysis, manuscript preparation, and approval of final draft.


Funding

This study was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia.