The role of the anti-angiogenic factor endostatin in intrauterine growth restriction.
OBJECTIVE
To study the impact of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) on anti-angiogenesis, by determining and comparing circulating levels of the potent anti-angiogenic factor endostatin, in full-term IUGR (under the 10th customized centile) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) fetuses, neonates, as well as their mothers, granted that IUGR implies hypoxia and endostatin is down-regulated by the latter.


METHODS
In 20 IUGR cases (mainly due to hypertension or preeclampsia) and 20 AGA controls we determined circulating endostatin levels, by enzyme immunoassay in the serum of mothers (MS), umbilical cords (UC-mixed arteriovenous blood)-representing the fetal state, and asymptomatic neonates on day 1 (N1) and 4 (N4) of life-signifying transition and stabilization to extrauterine life, respectively.


RESULTS
Endostatin levels were significantly higher in AGA than IUGR UC, N1, and N4 (P <.0000, P = .0006, P = .024, respectively). Furthermore, UC endostatin levels positively correlated with the customized centiles of the infants (Spearman correlation coefficient 0.69, P = .00001).


CONCLUSIONS
IUGR is characterized by lower circulating endostatin concentrations in the fetus and neonate, possibly because under lower oxygen concentrations an unbalanced state of angiogenesis stimulators versus inhibitors takes place.
Malamitsi-Puchner
Ariadne
A
2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens, Athens, Greece. malamitsi@aias.gr
Boutsikou
Theodora
T
Economou
Emmanuel
E
Makrakis
Evangelos
E
Iliodromiti
Zoe
Z
Kouskouni
Evangelia
E
Hassiakos
Demetrios
D
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D043169:Endostatins / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000378:metabolism*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009035:Mothers; D011247:Pregnancy; D012016:Reference Values
D043169:Endostatins