Elevation of amniotic fluid macrophage colony-stimulating factor in normotensive pregnancies that delivered small-for-gestational-age infants.
OBJECTIVE
Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) promotes placental growth and maintenance. We evaluated whether amniotic fluid M-CSF levels were altered in normotensive pregnancies that produced small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants arising from unknown factors.


METHODS
This study enrolled 68 Japanese women experiencing normotensive pregnancies with single fetuses. Of these pregnancies, 22 delivered SGA infants arising from unknown factors (SGA group); one delivered an SGA infant with intestinal obstruction. The other 45 were women who delivered appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) infants (AGA group). They were selected as controls. Amniotic fluid was collected and the M-CSF levels were compared between the two groups. The M-CSF level was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method.


RESULTS
Amniotic fluid M-CSF concentrations were 6525 pg/mL (median) in the SGA group and 4790 pg/mL in the AGA group; the concentrations were significantly higher in the SGA group than in the AGA group. The M-CSF concentrations in the woman who delivered an SGA infant with intestinal obstruction showed very high values (24290 pg/mL).


CONCLUSIONS
We demonstrated a significant increase in amniotic fluid M-CSF levels in the SGA group. Excessive concentrations of M-CSF in amniotic fluid via amniotic membranes may be highly related to immunological abnormalities contributing to low birth weight of neonates.
Hayashi
Masatoshi
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, International University of health and Welfare Atami Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan. mhayashi@lilac.plala.or.jp
Zhu
Kun
K
Sagesaka
Toshiaki
T
Fukasawa
Ichio
I
Inaba
Noriyuki
N
D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D007564:Japan; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000378:metabolism*; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values
D015415:Biomarkers; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor