Endothelin-1 and leptin as markers of intrauterine growth restriction.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the role of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and leptin in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) among preeclamptic and non-pre-eclamptic women.


METHODS
Forty three patients with a pregnancy complicated by IUGR, 23 cases with severe pre-eclampsia and 20 cases of non-pre-eclamptic were enrolled. Control group comprised 15 cases with uncomplicated pregnancy. Blood samples from umbilical artery and maternal venous blood were collected at the time of delivery for analysis of ET-1 and leptin levels. Mode of delivery, birth weight and Apgar score were also recorded.


RESULTS
The mean maternal and fetal ET-1 level was significantly higher in pregnancies complicated by IUGR than in control group. The mean maternal leptin level was significantly higher in pre-eclamptic patients when compared to non-preeclamptic and control groups. Mean fetal leptin level was significantly lower in patients compared to control; however, when fetal leptin corrected to fetal weight, it was insignificantly different in the both groups. E-mail: m. alhaggar@yahoo.co.uk.


CONCLUSIONS
Maternal plasma ET-1 and leptin correlate with the degree of fetal growth restriction originating from deterioration of placental function. Maternal plasma leptin and ET-1 levels may reflect deterioration in fetal growth.
Nezar
Mohamed Al-Shahat
MA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
el-Baky
Azza Mohammad Abd
AM
Soliman
Othman Al-Said
OA
Abdel-Hady
Hesham Al-Said
HA
Hammad
Ayman Mohammad
AM
Al-Haggar
Mohammad Saleh
MS
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001724:Birth Weight; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D016014:Linear Models; D008423:Maternal Age; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D019332:Endothelin-1; D020738:Leptin