The relation of fetal and early postnatal serum endoglin levels with birth weight and maternal preeclampsia

摘要

Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of fetal and early postnatal serum endoglin levels in fetal growth and to investigate the association between neonates of preeclamptic mothers and endoglin levels. Material and Methods: Fiftyfive neonates were prospectively enrolled into the study and divided into four groups: 1) Normal pregnancy and small for gestational age (SGA) neonates (n:13), 2) normal pregnancy and large for gestational age (LGA) neonates (n:19), 3) appropriate for gestational age (AGA) neonates of preeclamptic mothers (n:12), and 4) control group: AGA neonates born to mothers without preeclampsia or any other disease (n:11). Blood was collected from umbilical cords (UC) with both ends clamped, and from peripheral vein in the postnatal 4th hour. Serum endoglin levels were measured by employing an ELISA kit. Results: Endoglin was detectable in the serum of all studied umbilical cord and neonates. No statistically significant differences were found between fetal and early postnatal serum endoglin levels in SGA, LGA, preeclamptic and control groups. Fetal and early postnatal serum endoglin levels of SGA group were significantly higher than the values of AGA group. Conclusion: Fetal and early postnatal serum endoglin levels seem to be unchanged in neonates.We showed that SGA neonates are characterized by a alterations in serum endoglin levels.Our results suggest that increased endoglin levels may play a role in the pathophysiology of SGA. Further studies with larger patient series are required to determine the role of endoglin in fetal growth in normal neonates and in neonates born after a complicated pregnancy.