Levels of insulin-like growth factor-I and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 in pregnancy with preterm delivery.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between preterm delivery and maternal serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) levels.


METHODS
A study over a 12 month period in which all samples were collected according to a pre-set protocol.


METHODS
St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London.


METHODS
Thirty-eight nonpregnant adult females, 456 pregnant women at various gestational ages, 84 women with average-for-gestational-age babies at term delivery, and 49 pregnant women with preterm delivery (44 with singleton pregnancy and five with twin pregnancy).


METHODS
Serum IGF-I and IGFBP-1 levels were determined by radioimmunoassay.


RESULTS
Serum IGF-I concentrations increased as pregnancy progressed. In the third trimester, serum IGF-I levels in singleton preterm deliveries were lower than those in normal pregnancies, and IGFBP-1 concentrations were higher than those in normal pregnancies. This phenomenon was not obvious in the second trimester. Maternal circulating IGFBP-1 levels were correlated inversely with birthweight in women with singleton preterm delivery.


CONCLUSIONS
Neither IGF-I nor IGFBP-1 appears to play a significant role in preterm delivery since maternal serum IGF-I and IGFBP-1 levels are similar in preterm and term deliveries.
Wang
H S
HS
Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Lin-Kou Medical Centre, Taiwan.
Lee
C L
CL
Chard
T
T
D001724:Birth Weight; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I