Calprotectin in human cord blood: relation to perinatal parameters and restricted fetal growth.
To determine cord blood levels of calprotectin, a protein that is increased in inflammatory states and released by activated neutrophils has apoptosis-inducing activity.



Cord-blood calprotectin concentrations were determined in intrauterine-growth-restricted (IUGR, usually associated with increased neutrophil activation and apoptosis, n=50) and appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA, n=110) single full-term pregnancies, and were correlated with perinatal demographic parameters.



No significant differences exists between the IUGR and AGA groups, implying that calprotectin at birth does not reflect increased neutrophil activation and apoptosis expected in IUGR. However, in IUGRs, calprotectin concentrations increased with every gestational week [b=45.3, 95% confidence interval (CI): 13.5-77.1, P=0.006], suggesting concomitant up-regulation of neutrophil activation and apoptosis. A combined group showed significantly decreased calprotectin concentrations in cesarean sections [b=-74.5, 95% CI: -115.2-(-33.9), P<0.001], pointing to excessive inflammatory response in vaginal deliveries. Finally, birth weight, customized centile, gender, maternal age and parity do not impact on cord blood calprotectin concentrations.



Cord blood calprotectin concentrations at term are independent of intrauterine growth, gender, parity and maternal age and probably do not reflect the increased neutrophil activation and excessive apoptosis expected in IUGR.
Liosi
Sofia
S
Division of Neonatal, 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece.
Briana
Despina D
DD
Gourgiotis
Dimitrios
D
Boutsikou
Maria
M
Baka
Stavroula
S
Marmarinos
Antonios
A
Hassiakos
Dimitrios
D
Malamitsi-Puchner
Ariadne
A
D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D018375:Neutrophil Activation; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy
D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex