title: Influence of maternal pre-eclampsia on VEGF/PlGF heterodimer levels in preterm infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure VEGF/PlGF heterodimer levels in preterm infants born to mothers with preeclampsia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neonates with birth weight <2000 g and gestational age ≤34 weeks were divided into two groups: born to mothers with Preeclampsia (PE) and controls. Neonates transferred from outside after the 72nd hour of life, death before blood collection, major congenital malformations or inborn errors of metabolism, and mothers with multiple pregnancies, STORCH complex infections, HIV or autoimmune conditions were excluded. Blood was collected within 72 h of birth and again at 28 days. VEGF/PlGF heterodimer levels were measured by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We included 73 neonates (24 born to mothers with PE and 49 without PE). Mean gestational age was 30.32 ± 2.88 weeks and mean birth weight was 1288.62 ± 462.22 g. Median VEGF/PlGF levels were significantly higher in infants born to mothers with PE. VEGF/PlGF levels were inversely proportional to birth weight. There were no between-group differences in blood samples collected at age 28 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher VEGF/PlGF levels were higher in neonates exposed to PE, and there was a significant negative correlation between birth weight and VEGF/PlGF levels. Further studies to elucidate the role of this substance in the fetal and neonatal period are needed.
authors.affiliation: a Newborn Section, Department of Pediatrics , Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul and Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre , RS , Brazil.
authors.forename: Cláudia R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Hentges
authors.affiliation: a Newborn Section, Department of Pediatrics , Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul and Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre , RS , Brazil.
authors.forename: Rita C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.affiliation: a Newborn Section, Department of Pediatrics , Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul and Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre , RS , Brazil.
authors.forename: Régis S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Ferrelli
authors.affiliation: a Newborn Section, Department of Pediatrics , Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul and Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre , RS , Brazil.
authors.forename: Renato S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Procianoy
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001724:Birth Weight; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia; D011247:Pregnancy; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C098069:PIGF protein, human; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
keywords: Angiogenic factors; PlGF; VEGF; VEGF/PlGF heterodimer; antiangiogenic factors; preeclampsia; prematurity