Angiogenic growth factors in maternal and fetal serum in pregnancies complicated with intrauterine growth restriction.
The aim of this paper was to study if soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1), free vascular endothelial growth factor (f-VEGF) and the f-VEGF/sFlt-1 quotient in singleton pregnancies complicated with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) are different from controls. This was a case-control study between 18 pregnancies with IUGR and 24 controls. Angiogenic growth factors were measured in maternal serum during pregnancy and in umbilical artery and vein at birth. Results showed that maternal plasma f-VEGF and s-Flt-1 were significantly higher in IUGR compared with controls (p = 0.01 and 0.001, respectively). f-VEGF/sFlt-1 quotient was significantly lower in the IUGR group compared with controls. When we analysed umbilical cord angiogenic factors, we found no significant differences in the artery or vein angiogenic growth factors between the IUGR group and controls. It was concluded that mothers of IUGR fetuses have a more anti-angiogenic environment compared to those of controls.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital Universitario La Fe , Valencia , Spain.
D
D
Borras
A
A
Perales-Puchalt
N
N
Ruiz Sacedón
A
A
Perales
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000097:blood*
C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C501162:FLT1 protein, human; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1