Lipidomics Reveals Circulating Lipid Biomarkers for Retinopathy of Prematurity in Preterm Infants

Kajetan Trošt; Qian Gao; Jasmin Pernille Hjerresen; Porntiva Poorisrisak; Mia Ortved Bjerager; Anna Carolina Hvelplund; Brian Rafn Hjelvang; Kristian Vestergaard Jensen; Ivan Brandslund; Gorm Greisen; Thomas Moritz; Carina Slidsborg

doi:10.1016/j.xops.2026.101125

Lipidomics Reveals Circulating Lipid Biomarkers for Retinopathy of Prematurity in Preterm Infants

Kajetan Trošt^*
, Qian Gao
, Jasmin Pernille Hjerresen
, Porntiva Poorisrisak
, Mia Ortved Bjerager
, Anna Carolina Hvelplund
, Brian Rafn Hjelvang
, Kristian Vestergaard Jensen
, Ivan Brandslund
, Gorm Greisen
, Thomas Moritz
, Carina Slidsborg^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Paediatrics (HOL)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a multifactorial eye disease affecting children born premature and is a leading cause of blindness in preterm infants worldwide. Although it has primarily been associated with high oxygen supplementation from respiratory support, there are indications that additional metabolic factors, like circulating lipids, may play a role in the disease's pathophysiology.

DESIGN: An exploratory study on the development of ROP in preterm infants was conducted in Denmark during 2018 and 2019. Infants who developed a maximum of stage 1 ROP were classified as having mild retinopathy, whereas those who developed stage 2 or 3 were classified as having severe retinopathy.

PARTICIPANTS: The study involved 110 preterm infants born before 32 weeks of gestational age.

METHODS: During hospitalization in the neonatal wards, the infants were screened for ROP, and blood samples were collected every 2 weeks. A total of 485 lipid species were analyzed using lipidomics methodology, and mixed linear models were applied.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The association of lipids in early life (postnatal weeks 3-4) and their change throughout the study period was investigated.

RESULTS: All lipid classes, involving 310 lipid species, changed significantly during the neonatal period. In early postnatal life, the lipid profiles of some classes (especially phosphatidylcholines and ether-linked phosphatidylcholines) were associated with the severity of ROP. In infants with stage 2 or 3 ROP, glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids changed more slowly compared with infants with no ROP. Similarly, glycerophospholipid pathways were enriched in infants with ROP.

CONCLUSIONS: The lipidomic plasma profile in preterm infants shows significant change across the neonatal period, involving all lipid classes. The association with ROP suggests that lipid metabolism may also play a role in ROP pathogenesis. Dyslipidemia associated with ROP should be addressed in further studies.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES: The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Original language	English
Article number	101125
Journal	Ophthalmology science
Volume	6
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xops.2026.101125
Publication status	Published - May 2026

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10.1016/j.xops.2026.101125

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Trošt, K., Gao, Q., Hjerresen, J. P., Poorisrisak, P., Bjerager, M. O., Hvelplund, A. C., Hjelvang, B. R., Jensen, K. V., Brandslund, I., Greisen, G., Moritz, T., & Slidsborg, C. (2026). Lipidomics Reveals Circulating Lipid Biomarkers for Retinopathy of Prematurity in Preterm Infants. Ophthalmology science, 6(5), Article 101125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xops.2026.101125

@article{38082cde4ae04ee9a819dcbfcc1aee09,

title = "Lipidomics Reveals Circulating Lipid Biomarkers for Retinopathy of Prematurity in Preterm Infants",

abstract = "OBJECTIVE: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a multifactorial eye disease affecting children born premature and is a leading cause of blindness in preterm infants worldwide. Although it has primarily been associated with high oxygen supplementation from respiratory support, there are indications that additional metabolic factors, like circulating lipids, may play a role in the disease's pathophysiology.DESIGN: An exploratory study on the development of ROP in preterm infants was conducted in Denmark during 2018 and 2019. Infants who developed a maximum of stage 1 ROP were classified as having mild retinopathy, whereas those who developed stage 2 or 3 were classified as having severe retinopathy.PARTICIPANTS: The study involved 110 preterm infants born before 32 weeks of gestational age.METHODS: During hospitalization in the neonatal wards, the infants were screened for ROP, and blood samples were collected every 2 weeks. A total of 485 lipid species were analyzed using lipidomics methodology, and mixed linear models were applied.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The association of lipids in early life (postnatal weeks 3-4) and their change throughout the study period was investigated.RESULTS: All lipid classes, involving 310 lipid species, changed significantly during the neonatal period. In early postnatal life, the lipid profiles of some classes (especially phosphatidylcholines and ether-linked phosphatidylcholines) were associated with the severity of ROP. In infants with stage 2 or 3 ROP, glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids changed more slowly compared with infants with no ROP. Similarly, glycerophospholipid pathways were enriched in infants with ROP.CONCLUSIONS: The lipidomic plasma profile in preterm infants shows significant change across the neonatal period, involving all lipid classes. The association with ROP suggests that lipid metabolism may also play a role in ROP pathogenesis. Dyslipidemia associated with ROP should be addressed in further studies.FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES: The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.",

author = "Kajetan Tro{\v s}t and Qian Gao and Hjerresen, \{Jasmin Pernille\} and Porntiva Poorisrisak and Bjerager, \{Mia Ortved\} and Hvelplund, \{Anna Carolina\} and Hjelvang, \{Brian Rafn\} and Jensen, \{Kristian Vestergaard\} and Ivan Brandslund and Gorm Greisen and Thomas Moritz and Carina Slidsborg",

note = "{\textcopyright} 2026 American Academy of Ophthalmology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc.",

year = "2026",

month = may,

doi = "10.1016/j.xops.2026.101125",

language = "English",

volume = "6",

journal = "Ophthalmology science",

issn = "2666-9145",

publisher = "Elsevier",

number = "5",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Lipidomics Reveals Circulating Lipid Biomarkers for Retinopathy of Prematurity in Preterm Infants

AU - Trošt, Kajetan

AU - Gao, Qian

AU - Hjerresen, Jasmin Pernille

AU - Poorisrisak, Porntiva

AU - Bjerager, Mia Ortved

AU - Hvelplund, Anna Carolina

AU - Hjelvang, Brian Rafn

AU - Jensen, Kristian Vestergaard

AU - Brandslund, Ivan

AU - Greisen, Gorm

AU - Moritz, Thomas

AU - Slidsborg, Carina

PY - 2026/5

Y1 - 2026/5

N2 - OBJECTIVE: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a multifactorial eye disease affecting children born premature and is a leading cause of blindness in preterm infants worldwide. Although it has primarily been associated with high oxygen supplementation from respiratory support, there are indications that additional metabolic factors, like circulating lipids, may play a role in the disease's pathophysiology.DESIGN: An exploratory study on the development of ROP in preterm infants was conducted in Denmark during 2018 and 2019. Infants who developed a maximum of stage 1 ROP were classified as having mild retinopathy, whereas those who developed stage 2 or 3 were classified as having severe retinopathy.PARTICIPANTS: The study involved 110 preterm infants born before 32 weeks of gestational age.METHODS: During hospitalization in the neonatal wards, the infants were screened for ROP, and blood samples were collected every 2 weeks. A total of 485 lipid species were analyzed using lipidomics methodology, and mixed linear models were applied.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The association of lipids in early life (postnatal weeks 3-4) and their change throughout the study period was investigated.RESULTS: All lipid classes, involving 310 lipid species, changed significantly during the neonatal period. In early postnatal life, the lipid profiles of some classes (especially phosphatidylcholines and ether-linked phosphatidylcholines) were associated with the severity of ROP. In infants with stage 2 or 3 ROP, glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids changed more slowly compared with infants with no ROP. Similarly, glycerophospholipid pathways were enriched in infants with ROP.CONCLUSIONS: The lipidomic plasma profile in preterm infants shows significant change across the neonatal period, involving all lipid classes. The association with ROP suggests that lipid metabolism may also play a role in ROP pathogenesis. Dyslipidemia associated with ROP should be addressed in further studies.FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES: The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

AB - OBJECTIVE: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a multifactorial eye disease affecting children born premature and is a leading cause of blindness in preterm infants worldwide. Although it has primarily been associated with high oxygen supplementation from respiratory support, there are indications that additional metabolic factors, like circulating lipids, may play a role in the disease's pathophysiology.DESIGN: An exploratory study on the development of ROP in preterm infants was conducted in Denmark during 2018 and 2019. Infants who developed a maximum of stage 1 ROP were classified as having mild retinopathy, whereas those who developed stage 2 or 3 were classified as having severe retinopathy.PARTICIPANTS: The study involved 110 preterm infants born before 32 weeks of gestational age.METHODS: During hospitalization in the neonatal wards, the infants were screened for ROP, and blood samples were collected every 2 weeks. A total of 485 lipid species were analyzed using lipidomics methodology, and mixed linear models were applied.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The association of lipids in early life (postnatal weeks 3-4) and their change throughout the study period was investigated.RESULTS: All lipid classes, involving 310 lipid species, changed significantly during the neonatal period. In early postnatal life, the lipid profiles of some classes (especially phosphatidylcholines and ether-linked phosphatidylcholines) were associated with the severity of ROP. In infants with stage 2 or 3 ROP, glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids changed more slowly compared with infants with no ROP. Similarly, glycerophospholipid pathways were enriched in infants with ROP.CONCLUSIONS: The lipidomic plasma profile in preterm infants shows significant change across the neonatal period, involving all lipid classes. The association with ROP suggests that lipid metabolism may also play a role in ROP pathogenesis. Dyslipidemia associated with ROP should be addressed in further studies.FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES: The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

U2 - 10.1016/j.xops.2026.101125

DO - 10.1016/j.xops.2026.101125

M3 - Article

C2 - 42005913

SN - 2666-9145

VL - 6

JO - Ophthalmology science

JF - Ophthalmology science

IS - 5

M1 - 101125

ER -

Lipidomics Reveals Circulating Lipid Biomarkers for Retinopathy of Prematurity in Preterm Infants

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