title: Plasma hepatocyte growth factor as a marker for small-for-gestational age fetuses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the association between hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) levels and pregnancy outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hepatocyte growth factor levels were measured in 42 plasma samples between weeks 14 and 21 of gestation using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results were correlated to pregnancy outcome and Mann-Whitney U-test applied to study the differences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hepatocyte growth factor values in pregnancies that develop preeclampsia (n=12) were not significantly different from unaffected pregnancies (n=21, multiples of the median (MoM)=1.38, P=0.47). However, hepatocyte growth factor values were significantly elevated in pregnancies of small-for-gestational age (SGA) fetuses (n=9) compared to uncomplicated pregnancies (MoM=2.66, P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Measurement of hepatocyte growth factor in peripheral blood between 14 and 21 weeks gestation may offer new possibilities in the early diagnosis and prediction of fetal birth weight but not of preeclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, Molecular Biology Laboratory, VU University Medical Center, de Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: May Lee
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Tjoa
authors.forename: Monique A M
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mulders
authors.forename: John M G
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: van Vugt
authors.forename: Marinus A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Blankenstein
authors.forename: Cees B M
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Oudejans
authors.forename: Inge J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: van Wijk
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor