Abstract
Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a known mediator of angiogenesis, stimulates the survival of endothelial cells in newly formed blood vessels. VEGF exerts its effects by binding to two receptors; VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2. Soluble VEGFR-1 is a potent inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor and placental growth factor.
Objective: to test the hypothesis that serum concentration of the soluble receptor sVEGF-R1 is increased in infants with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) regardless of the underlying cause of IUGR.
Study design: Serum samples of 30 IUGR and 20 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) neonates were obtained within the first 24 h of life and kept frozen at −80°C degrees until the time of assays. Concentrations of sVEGFR-1 were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay double sandwich method. Regression analysis was performed to test the association of IUGR with sVEGFR-1 after controlling for confounding variables.
Results: sVEGFR-1 concentrations in IUGR patients were increased when compared to control. Patients with preeclamptic mothers had increased sVEGFR-1 when compared to patients with non-preeclamptic mothers. The latter had increased concentrations of sVEGFR-1 than control. sVEGFR-1 correlated negatively with birth weight, length and head circumference of the studied neonates.
Conclusion: Concentrations of sVEGFR-1 are increased in the serum of IUGR neonates when compared to AGA controls. IUGR and preeclampsia are independently associated with increased sVEGFR-1 concentrations. This phenomenon presumably reflects a predominance of anti-angiogenic mechanisms present in IUGR.
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