title: Soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 in intrauterine growth restricted fetuses and neonates.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Angiogenesis, a critical process for growth and development is altered in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors VEGFR-1, soluble (s) VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 represent a regulatory system, essential for both physiological and pathological angiogenesis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the implication of sVEGFR-1-a VEGF antagonist-in IUGR.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five IUGR and 15 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) full-term fetuses and neonates with their mothers were included in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  sVEGFR-1 levels were determined by enzyme immunoassay in the serum of: mothers (MS), umbilical cords (UC)-representing fetal state - and neonates on day 1 (N1) and 4 (N4) of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MS, UC, N1 and N4 sVEGFR-1 levels in IUGR were significantly higher compared to respective AGA cases (p = 0.005, p = 0.026, p = 0.005 and p = 0.017, respectively). In IUGR and AGA groups, maternal sVEGFR-1 levels were significantly higher than fetal and neonatal levels (p in all cases < 0.001). The latter presented in both IUGR and AGA groups a significant decrease from UC to N4 (p in all cases < 0.01). MS, N1 and N4 sVEGFR-1 levels negatively correlated with the infants' customized centiles [(r = -0.489, p = 0.001), (r = -0.440, p = 0.004), (r = -0.431, p = 0.006), respectively].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher sVEGFR-1 levels in the IUGR as compared to the AGA group possibly reflect the predominance of antiangiogenic mechanisms present in IUGR. The decrease of sVEGFR-1 levels from UC to N4 may represent ex utero initiation of growth and development and therefore, prevalence of angiogenic mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Division, 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens 19, Soultani Str GR-10682, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Theodora
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Boutsikou
authors.forename: Ariadne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malamitsi-Puchner
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Economou
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boutsikou
authors.forename: Karl-Philipp
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Puchner
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hassiakos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood*; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1