Reduced maternal serum concentrations of angiopoietin-2 in the first trimester precede intrauterine growth restriction associated with placental insufficiency.
The aim of this study was to investigate whether maternal serum levels of angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) are associated with subsequent intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Ang-2 was measured in 29 nonpregnant and 44 pregnant women at 10-13 weeks of gestation. The median concentration of Ang-2 was 26.61 ng/ml in normal pregnant women compared with 1.71 ng/ml in nonpregnant controls (P < 0.01). Women who subsequently developed severe IUGR had lower levels of Ang-2 compared with normal pregnant controls (P < 0.01). PAPP-A levels were similar in all pregnant groups. These findings suggest that Ang-2 should be evaluated for its ability to predict pregnancies that later are affected by IUGR.
Wang
Y
Y
Perinatal Research Group, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.
Tasevski
V
V
Wallace
E M
EM
Gallery
E D
ED
Morris
J M
JM
D042702:Angiopoietin-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D010927:Placental Insufficiency / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A / Q000378:metabolism
D042702:Angiopoietin-2; D015415:Biomarkers; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A