title: Is there a correlation between maternal serum TGF-β1 levels and fetal hydronephrosis?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to identify a noninvasive marker for clinically significant fetal uropathies. To achieve this aim, we detected TGF (transforming growth factor)-β1 serum level which rises in neonatal hydronephrosis, in pregnant patients with fetal hydronephrosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 44 patients, all of whom were pregnant and had a gestational age between 20 and 30 weeks. Twenty-two patients had normal maternal renal ultrasound imaging and had a fetus with fetal hydronephrosis (Group A). The remaining twenty-two patients had normal maternal and fetal renal ultrasound imaging (Group B). The maternal serum levels of TGF-β1 were measured with a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using a commercially available kit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median value for the study group was 55.90 pg/mL (9.67 ± 574.45) and for the control group was 59.49 pg/mL (12.49 ± 402.04). There was no statistical difference in serum TGF-β1 levels between the groups (p = 0.769 - Mann-Whitney U test). In the study group, the diameter of the right renal pelvis was 5.7 mm (5.1-8.9 mm), while the diameter of left renal pelvis was 5.75 mm (5.3-10.04 mm).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our study, the circulating TGF-β1 levels were not statistically different in the fetal hydronephrosis group when compared to the controls. According to our study, TGF-β1 is not useful in the detection and follow-up of fetal hydronephrosis. We therefore require further studies involving larger groups with moderate or severe fetal hydronephrosis to detect the usefulness of the serum levels of TGF-β1 in pregnant women with fetal hydronephrosis.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology .
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seven
authors.affiliation: b Department of Pediatric Surgery , and.
authors.forename: Bircan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Savran
authors.affiliation: c Department of Biochemistry , Dumlupinar University , Kutahya , Turkey , and.
authors.forename: Emel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koçak
authors.affiliation: d Department of Radiology , Dumlupinar University Kutahya Evliya Çelebi Education and Research Hospital , Kutahya , Turkey.
authors.forename: Sermin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tok
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology .
authors.forename: Kadriye Beril
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Yüksel
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology .
authors.forename: İlay
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Gözükara
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology .
authors.forename: Suna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kabil Kucur
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006869:Hydronephrosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000151:congenital* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007682:Kidney Pelvis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011247:Pregnancy; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1
keywords: Biomarker; TGF-β1; fetal hydronephrosis; pregnant woman