title: Galanin in the amniotic fluid and neonatal birth weight: a prospective observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to examine whether an association is present between amniotic fluid (AF) galanin and neonatal birth weight (NBW).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fetal maternal unit in a tertiary teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty women of singleton pregnancy who underwent amniocentesis during the second trimester and delivered after the 37th week of gestation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Amniocentesis 18th-19th gestational week for genetic indication with the use of a 22G needle under real-time sonographic guidance and measurement of galanin concentration in the AF.
  
  
  METHODS
  Association between concentration of AF galanin and NBW at term.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Galanin was isolated in all samples of AF (median concentration 19.95 pg/mL; range: 19.0-21.7). A strong linear correlation between AF galanin and NBW was detected (τ = 0.928; p < 0.001). Non-parametric linear regression analysis revealed that galanin concentration could explain 72.1% of the variance in the NBW, when controlling for gestational week at birth and mother's body mass index at delivery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AF galanin during the second trimester seems to have a strong linear correlation with NBW of term deliveries in singleton pregnancies, even when controlling for important confounders.
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Papageorgiou General Hospital, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. helbil@auth.gr
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bili
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Venetis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Athanatos
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tsolakidis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Assimakopoulos
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tarlatzis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D019004:Galanin / Q000032:analysis*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019004:Galanin