title: Association of adiponectin and placental growth factor in amniotic fluid with second trimester fetal growth.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We investigated the associations between second trimester amniotic fluid (AF) levels of human adiponectin and placental growth factor (PLGF) in small for gestational age (SGA), large for gestational age (LGA) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) fetuses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adiponectin and PLGF levels were determined by enzyme immunoassay in AF of 21 SGA, 13 LGA and 44 AGA fetuses between 15-22 weeks of gestation, derived from pregnant women who underwent amniocentesis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adiponectin and PLGF levels were detectable in AF. Median (25th-75th percentile) adiponectin levels were 16.1 (10.9-32.3) ng/ml in SGA, 19.5 (15.1-30.9) ng/ml in AGA, and 18.2 (14.7-30.8) ng/ml in LGA fetuses. Median (25th-75th percentile) PLGF levels were 24.2 (19.9-34.9) pg/nl in SGA, 26.4 (20.9-33.8) pg/ml in AGA and 33.5 (21.8-40.4) pg/ml in LGA fetuses. The differences were not statistically significant. Nevertheless, indication of differentiation of levels existed when SGA and LGA fetuses in the extremes of distribution were considered. Specifically, very severely SGA fetuses (≤2.5th percentile) tended to have high levels of adiponectin and reduced levels of PLGF in AF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study presenting adiponectin and PLGF concentrations in early second trimester amniotic fluid in AGA, SGA and LGA fetuses. The altered concentrations of adiponectin and PLGF in very severely SGA fetuses possibly result from the growth-promoting effect of these factors through the metabolic route and the vascular integrity of the placenta, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Emmanouil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kalampokas
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vrachnis
authors.forename: Evaggelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Samoli
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rizos
authors.forename: Zoe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Iliodromiti
authors.forename: Stavros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sifakis
authors.forename: Theodoros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kalampokas
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vitoratos
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Creatsas
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Botsis
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000032:analysis*; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D015415:Biomarkers; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005320:Fetal Macrosomia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D008297:Male; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis
chemical_list: C499918:ADIPOQ protein, human; D052242:Adiponectin; D015415:Biomarkers; C000608036:PGF protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor