title: Biochemical markers of placental dysfunction in assisted conception.
abstract: A possible mechanism for poor perinatal outcomes in singleton pregnancies conceived following assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and those conceived naturally following a period of infertility (>12 months) is thought to be placental dysfunction. This was investigated by measuring plasma concentrations of biochemical markers: (i) soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase1 (sFlt1); (ii) placental growth factor (PlGF); (iii) leptin; and (iv) plasminogen activator inhibitor 2 (PAI-2), serially at four antenatal time points. Baseline concentrations of each marker after delivery were also measured. The control group was naturally conceived singleton pregnancies with no history of infertility. Non-smoking, age-matched nulliparous women with no significant medical history were recruited to all groups. The ART group had significantly lower mean plasma concentrations of PlGF at all antenatal time points compared to the control group (p < 0.001). The subfertility (SF) group had significantly higher mean serum concentrations of leptin than the other groups at all time points (p < 0.001), even after correction for body mass index. There were no significant differences in sFlt1 and PAI-2 concentrations between the groups. Low plasma PlGF concentrations in the ART group might suggest abnormal placentation and/or abnormal function in ART pregnancies with relevance to pathogenesis of pregnancy complications in these women.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Queen's University Belfast , Belfast , UK and.
authors.forename: Jolly
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Joy
authors.affiliation: b Regional Regulatory Peptide Laboratory , Royal Victoria Hospital , Belfast , UK.
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.affiliation: b Regional Regulatory Peptide Laboratory , Royal Victoria Hospital , Belfast , UK.
authors.forename: Joy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ardill
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Queen's University Belfast , Belfast , UK and.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mcclure
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Queen's University Belfast , Belfast , UK and.
authors.forename: Inez
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cooke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D010920:Placenta / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D017396:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 2 / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020738:Leptin; C000608036:PGF protein, human; D017396:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 2; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1
keywords: Assisted conception; infertility; leptin; placental function; placental growth factor; placentation