Moreover, lower plasma apelin-13 levels were correlated with higher stages of ROP (75.4 ± 17.7 pg/mL versus 92.4 ± 20.7 pg/mL) and higher plasma VEGF levels were correlated with higher stages of ROP (129.0 ± 25.4 pg/mL versus 109.7 ± 23.7 pg/mL) (both P < 0.001; Table 3). Here, APLN is linked to retinopathy of prematurity.