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Prediction of Fetal Growth Restriction by Analyzing the Messenger RNAs of Angiogenic Factor in the Plasma of Pregnant Women

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Abstract

Objective

To predict the occurrence of fetal growth restriction (FGR) by analyzing messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 [Flt-1]) in maternal blood.

Study Design

Eleven women with FGR were matched with 88 controls. Plasma samples were obtained during each trimester. The Flt-1 mRNA expression levels were compared between groups. Predicted probabilities were calculated, and sensitivity-specificity (receiver-operating characteristic [ROC]) curves were assessed based on regression models for each trimester measurement and possible combinations of measurements.

Results

The mRNA levels of the FGR group during all trimesters were significantly higher than those of the control group. The ROC curve of combined first and second trimester data yielded a detection rate of 60% at a 10% false-positive rate, with an area under curve of 0.79.

Conclusion

The Flt-1 mRNA expression in maternal blood can be used as a marker to predict the development of FGR, long before a clinical diagnosis is made.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Showa University School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, 142-8666, Tokyo, Japan

    Shin Takenaka MD, Walter Ventura MD, Akihiro Kawashima MD, PhD, Keiko Koide MD, PhD, Kyoko Hori & Akihiko Sekizawa MD, PhD

  2. Fetal Medicine Unit, Instituto Nacional Materno Perinatal, Lima, Peru

    Walter Ventura MD

  3. Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    Anna Freni Sterrantino PhD

  4. Department of Medicine and Surgery (DIMEC), Division of Prenatal Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    Antonio Farina MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Shin Takenaka MD
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  2. Walter Ventura MD
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  3. Anna Freni Sterrantino PhD
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  4. Akihiro Kawashima MD, PhD
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  5. Keiko Koide MD, PhD
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  6. Kyoko Hori
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  7. Antonio Farina MD, PhD
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  8. Akihiko Sekizawa MD, PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shin Takenaka MD.

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Takenaka, S., Ventura, W., Sterrantino, A.F. et al. Prediction of Fetal Growth Restriction by Analyzing the Messenger RNAs of Angiogenic Factor in the Plasma of Pregnant Women. Reprod. Sci. 22, 743–749 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719114557895

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719114557895

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