The diagnostic and prognostic value of serum angiopoietin-like 4 level in neonatal respiratory distress syndrome.

Objectives: Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) is the most common respiratory disease in preterm infants (PIs). The implication of Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) was reported in lung diseases. We delved into the role of serum ANGPTL4 in NRDS diagnosis/prognosis.

Methods: Totally 256 PIs were prospectively selected, including 128 NRDS infants and 128 non-NRDS PIs. NRDS infants were assigned into Survival and Death groups. ANGPTL4 level in PIs and its diagnostic and prognostic value for NRDS were separately assessed by ELISA and receiver operating characteristic curve. The independent risk factors (IRFs) for death in NRDS infants were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression.

Results: NRDS infants exhibited reduced gestational age, birth weight, and 5 min Apgar score. ANGPTL4 level rose in NRDS infants, and increased with NRDS severity. Serum ANGPTL4 level was negatively correlated with 5 min Apgar score in NRDS infants. The area under the curve of serum ANGPTL4 for the diagnosis of NRDS was 0.902, with 88.28% sensitivity, 86.72% specificity, and 255.98 ng/mL cut-off value; the AUC for the diagnosis of severe NRDS was 0.741, with 66.67% sensitivity, 79.52% specificity, and 625.5 ng/mL cut-off value. Low gestational age, birth weight and 5 min Apgar score, severe NRDS, and elevated serum ANGPTL4 levels were IRFs for death in NRDS infants. NRDS infants with increased serum ANGPTL4 level displayed decreased survival rate and short survival time.

Conclusions: ANGPTL4 exhibited high diagnostic value and predictive value for death in NRDS, and it served as a biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of NRDS.