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First trimester TTR-RBP4-ROH complex and angiogenic factors in the prediction of small for gestational age infant’s outcome

  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To study the role of the TTR-RBP4-ROH complex components (transthyretin, serum retinol binding protein, retinol) and of angiogenic factors PlGF (placental growth factor) and sFlt-1 (soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1) in pregnancies complicated by small for gestational age infants (SGA).

Methods

Case control study conducted on maternal serum collected between 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks of gestation. TTR, RBP4, ROH, PlGF and sFlt-1 were measured in SGA patients (birth weight <10%) who delivered at term (n = 37) and before 37 weeks of gestation (n = 17) and in a matched control group with uneventful pregnancies (n = 37).

Results

We found decreased RBP4 in SGA patients that delivered fetuses <3% and in fetuses delivered after the 37 weeks of gestation compared to controls [1.50 (95% CI 1.40–1.75) vs 1.62 (95% CI 1.47–1.98), p < 0.05]. Further, we found lower PlGF and sFlt-1 concentrations in SGA that delivered before 37 weeks of gestation compared to controls (respectively, PIGF and sFlt-1: 39.7 pg/ml (95% CI 32.3–66.3) vs 62.9 pg/ml (95% CI 45.2–78.4) and 906 pg/ml (95% CI 727–1626) vs 1610 pg/ml (95% CI 1088–212), p < 0.05).

Conclusions

First trimester maternal serum RBP4 and angiogenic factors PlGF and sFlt-1 can differently predict the timing of delivery of pregnancies complicated by SGA fetuses.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the staff collaborating on the study, particularly during sample collection and storage at the Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Münster, Germany.

Authors’ contributions

AF helped in Protocol. AF and JA helped in data collection. APL was involved in data analysis. AH, FJS, WK, JS, RS, JRN, and JR contributed to project development. AF, APL, JRN, AH, and JR were involved in manuscript writing. FJS, WK, JS, RS, AH, and JR were involved in manuscript editing.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Ambrogio P. Londero

    Present address: Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Monfalcone, Italy

  2. Johannes Steinhard

    Present address: Center for Prenatal Medicine und Human Genetic, Münster, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Franziskus-Hospital of Ahlen, Robert-Koch-Straße 55, 59227, Ahlen, Germany

    Arrigo Fruscalzo

  2. Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Münster, Münster, Germany

    Arrigo Fruscalzo, Julia Frommer, Johannes Steinhard, Walter Klockenbusch & Ralf Schmitz

  3. Obstetrics and Gynecology, DISM, AOU “SM della Misericordia” of Udine, Udine, Italy

    Ambrogio P. Londero

  4. Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Institute of Nutritional Science, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany

    Andrea Henze, Florian J. Schweigert & Jens Raila

  5. Centrum für Laboratoriumsmedizin, University Hospital of Münster, Münster, Germany

    Jerzy-Roch Nofer

  6. Department of Fetal Cardiology, Herz-und Diabetes Zentrum NRW, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany

    Johannes Steinhard

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  1. Arrigo Fruscalzo
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Correspondence to Arrigo Fruscalzo.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Fruscalzo, A., Frommer, J., Londero, A.P. et al. First trimester TTR-RBP4-ROH complex and angiogenic factors in the prediction of small for gestational age infant’s outcome. Arch Gynecol Obstet 295, 1157–1165 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-017-4338-4

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