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Mediators of Inflammation
Volume 2005, Issue 5, Pages 293-297
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/MI.2005.293

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Placenta Growth Factor in Intrauterine Growth-Restricted Fetuses and Neonates

Ariadne Malamitsi-Puchner,1,2 Theodora Boutsikou,1 Emmanuel Economou,1 Angeliki Sarandakou,1 Evangelos Makrakis,1 Dimitrios Hassiakos,1 and George Creatsas1

12nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens, Athens 11528, Greece
2Neonatal Division, 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens, Athens 11528, Greece

Received 17 May 2005; Accepted 21 June 2005

Copyright © 2005 Hindawi Publishing Corporation. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

The angiogenic factors vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and placenta growth factor (PlGF) are respectively up- and downregulated by hypoxia. We aimed to study circulating levels of the above factors in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and to correlate their levels with the customized centiles of the infants. The study included 25 IUGR and 25 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) full-term, singleton infants and their mothers. Maternal (MS), fetal (UC), and neonatal day 1 (N1) and 4 (N4) blood was examined. MS and N1 PlGF, as well as UC VEGF levels correlated with the customized centiles of the infants (r=0.39, P=.007, r=0.34, P=.01, and r=−0.41, P=.004, resp). Furthermore, UC, N1, and N4 VEGF levels were higher in girls (r=0.36, P=.01, r=0.33, P=.02, and r=0.41, P=.005 resp). In conclusion, positive and negative correlations of examined factors with the customized centiles of the infant could rely on placental function and intrauterine oxygen concentrations—both being usually lower in IUGR cases—while higher VEGF levels in girls should possibly be attributed to the stimulating action of estrogens.