Angiogenic growth factors in maternal and fetal serum in pregnancies complicated with intrauterine growth restriction

Abstract

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.

Keywords::

• Angiogenesis
• fetal growth restriction
• sFlt-1
• VEGF

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

This study was supported by a grant from the Spanish Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria (FIS) PI3030059.