Second trimester amniotic fluid endothelin-1 concentrations and subsequent development of intrauterine growth restriction.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this prospective study was to record endothelin-1 (ET-1) concentrations in the second trimester amniotic fluid and compare these values in women who developed intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) later in pregnancy with those with uneventful pregnancies.


METHODS
Amniotic fluid was retrieved by amniocentesis from 125 women in the second trimester of pregnancy. The levels of ET1 were measured by a sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay.


RESULTS
From the 125 women included in the study 12 had pregnancies that later developed IUGR and 88 had uneventful pregnancies. The ET1 concentration was significantly higher (P<0.005) in women who later developed IUGR than in normal pregnancy (106 pg/ml versus 64.7 pg/ml).


CONCLUSIONS
The amniotic fluid concentration of ET1 is elevated by the second trimester in women who later develop IUGR.
Margarit
Lavinia
L
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital of Patras, Greece. laviniamarg@yahoo.com
Griffiths
Anthony N
AN
Tsapanos
Vassilios
V
Tsakas
Sotiris
S
Gumenos
Dimitios
D
Decavalas
George
G
D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D015415:Biomarkers; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011446:Prospective Studies
D015415:Biomarkers; D019332:Endothelin-1