الفهرس 
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Abstract
The present study was designed to evaluate the role of serum apelin as a diagnostic tool in retinopathy of prematurity disease.
The study was conducted on 70 preterm neonates, 35 neonates were diagnosed to have ROP as a study group and 35 preterm babies without retinopathy of prematurity as a control group [20 males (57.1%) and 15 females (42.9%) in both groups].
The mean birth weight was [2.42+(0.54)]kg and [2.58+ (0.48)]kg for study and control groups respectively. The gestational age ranged from (30-36 wks) with a mean of [34.37+1.29] wks for study group and [34.14+1.33] wks for control group.
All patients in the study were subjected to adequate history taking, full clinical examination, fundus examination by indirect ophthalmoscope (at 4-6 weeks) and serum Apelin assay at birth and after 4-6 weeks.
We investigate the most significant risk factors related to the development of ROP; these risk factors included O2 therapy > 7days, caesarian section (as a mode of delivery), sepsis, M.V, blood transfusion, PROM, pneumothorax, HIE, cardiac problems and N. Jaundice.
There was no statistically significant difference between patient and control groups as regard gestational age, birth weight or sex.
We found a significant relationship between the occurrence of ROP and the use of oxygen therapy >7days.