Umbilical cord serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in normal pregnancies and in pregnancies complicated by preterm delivery or pre-eclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine whether increased levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are implicated in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia and in preterm delivery.


METHODS
Umbilical cord serum VEGF levels from women with uncomplicated term pregnancies (control group, n=24), with pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia (n=21), or with preterm delivery (n=29) were compared. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U-test, the t-test, and Smirnoff-Kolmogorov test.


RESULTS
The mean VEGF concentration was significantly higher in the women with pre-eclampsia than in women from the control group (P<0.01). There were also increased but not significantly higher VEGF concentrations in the preterm delivery group compared with the control group (P=0.16).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study results support previous findings that raised umbilical cord serum VEGF levels might be correlated with the clinical development of pre-eclampsia and, in some circumstances, of preterm delivery.
Galazios
G
G
Department OB/GYN Democritus University of Thrace-Medical School, University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Dragana, Alexandroupolis, Greece. nikol-1@otenet.gr
Papazoglou
D
D
Giagloglou
K
K
Vassaras
G
G
Koutlaki
N
N
Maltezos
E
E
D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A