title: Gestation dependant changes in angiogenic factors and their associations with fetal growth measures in normotensive pregnancy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Earlier studies indicate that altered angiogenesis at birth is associated with poor birth outcome in women with preeclampsia. Now, we hypothesize that the progressive gestation dependant changes in markers of angiogenesis will be more useful to predict birth weight early even in a normotensive pregnancy. This study for the first time examines the association of gestation dependant changes in the levels of maternal angiogenic factors in addition to their levels in cord with birth weight.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety two pregnant women were followed at three different time points: 16-20 weeks, 26-30 weeks and at delivery during pregnancy. Plasma levels of angiogenic and anti angiogenic factors were determined by commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maternal plasma VEGF levels increased (p<0.01) till the second time point and decreased (p<0.05) up to delivery while plasma sFlt-1 levels increased (p<0.01) at delivery. PlGF levels peaked (p<0.01) at second time point and decreased (p<0.01) at delivery. Cord plasma VEGF levels were higher (p<0.01) and sFlt-1 levels were lower (p<0.01) as compared to maternal values at all time points. Maternal plasma VEGF levels at first time point and PlGF levels at delivery were positively (p<0.05 and p<0.01 respectively), while sFlt-1/PlGF ratio at delivery was negatively associated (p<0.05) with birth weight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Levels of pro- and anti-angiogenic factors may be differentially regulated across gestation. Maternal VEGF levels at early gestation (16-20 weeks) may be predictive of birth weight in healthy term pregnancies.
authors: Department of Nutritional Medicine, Interactive Research School for Health Affairs, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune, India.
authors: Deepali
authors: D
authors: Sundrani
authors: Vinita
authors: V
authors: Khot
authors: Hemlata
authors: H
authors: Pisal
authors: Savita
authors: S
authors: Mehendale
authors: Girija
authors: G
authors: Wagh
authors: Asmita
authors: A
authors: Joshi
authors: Sadhana
authors: S
authors: Joshi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: C000608036:PGF protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; C501162:FLT1 protein, human; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1