Umbilical cord plasma levels of growth-arrest specific protein 6 in intrauterine growth restriction.
OBJECTIVE
Growth arrest specific protein 6 (GAS6) is a newly discovered antiapoptotic protein related to cell survival. We hypothesized that GAS6 might be involved in the fetal adaptation to intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).


METHODS
A nested case-control study.


METHODS
A retrospective study of 25 small-for-gestational age and 36 appropriate-for-gestational age pregnancies.


METHODS
Frozen samples from cases and controls in a prospective cohort study.


METHODS
GAS6 was measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method in umbilical cord plasma taken immediately after delivery.


METHODS
Differences in GAS6 levels between pregnancies with placental insufficiency and those without.


RESULTS
GAS6 levels were significantly higher among newborns with abnormal umbilical cord Doppler tracings (19.5 +/- 5.3 vs. 15.0 +/- 3.2, p = 0.02). Among those with abnormal umbilical cord tracings (n = 9), the two with umbilical venous pulsations had significantly lower GAS6 levels (mean 14.4 vs. 21.1, p = 0.04) and one of them died after delivery.


CONCLUSIONS
GAS6 levels are raised in IUGR fetuses and we speculate that GAS6 might be involved in the fetal adaptation to placental insufficiency.
Lindqvist
Pelle G
PG
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clintec, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden. Pelle.Lindqvist@ki.se
Balogh
Istwan
I
Dahlbäck
Björn
B
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D010927:Placental Insufficiency / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D000099255:Growth Arrest-Specific Protein 6
D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D000099255:Growth Arrest-Specific Protein 6