The utility of serial plasma sE-selectin measurements in the prediction of retinopathy of prematurity in premature infants.

Background: sE-selectin has recently been suggested as a surrogate marker for prediction of ROP development.

Aims: The possible role of serial plasma sE-selectin measurements in early prediction and diagnosis of ROP was evaluated.

Study Design: Prospective observational study

Subjects: Forty six preterm infants aged <34weeks of gestation and weighing <1500 g were enrolled. Of these, 26 constituted the ROP group and 20 constituted the no-ROP group. sE-selectin levels were measured serially in blood samples on the 1st day and on 14th and 28th postnatal days.

Outcome Measures: The primary outcome measure was to evaluate the role of sE-selectin concentrations in prediction of ROP.

Results: The mean gestational age and birth weight were significantly lower in the ROP group. The mean sE-selectin concentrations in ROP group were significantly greater than those in no-ROP group at each time point (1st, 14th and 28th days of postnatal life). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that at a plasma concentration of ≥86ng/mL on the 1st postnatal day, sE-selectin had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 94.1% with a positive predictive value of 96.3% and a negative predictive value of 100%. Plasma sE-selectin concentrations were significantly greater in infants who developed ROP in three different time points.

Conclusions: This study shows for the first time that measurement of plasma sE-selectin concentrations as early as the first day of life might help identify preterm infants at risk of ROP.