title: Maternal serum protein S forms in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The clinical relevance of protein S deficiency in pregnant women remains controversial. Major debate exists regarding which parameter (total protein S antigen, free protein S antigen or functional protein S) should be evaluated in order to define protein S deficiency. The present study aimed to identify which of these parameters correlate with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective case-control study of women with IUGR (n=27) and healthy controls (n=123) in the third trimester of pregnancy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The maternal serum of women in the IUGR group had significantly lower levels of functional and free protein S compared with the control group: 54.07 ± 24.72% vs 65.20 ± 17.95% (p<0.005) and 42.88 ± 11.01% vs 56.64 ± 13.30% (p<0.0001), respectively. No significant correlation was found between total protein S and IUGR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Levels of functional and free protein S are correlated with IUGR.
authors: Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: De Bonis
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Sabatini
authors: Luna R
authors: LR
authors: Galeazzi
authors: Michela
authors: M
authors: Torricelli
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Calzoni
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Fineschi
authors: Romina
authors: R
authors: Novembri
authors: Filiberto M
authors: FM
authors: Severi
authors: Felice
authors: F
authors: Petraglia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D017293:Protein S / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D018455:Protein S Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D017293:Protein S