Concentrations of eNOS, VEGF, ACE and PlGF in maternal blood as predictors of impaired fetal growth in pregnancy complicated by gestational hypertension/preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate into an association between circulating levels of vascular factors (VF: ACE, eNOS, PlGF and VEGF) and impaired fetal growth measured as a small for gestational age newborn (SGA) in women with gestational hypertension/preeclampsia.

METHODS

A prospective observational trial in 46 patients in singleton pregnancies. Concentrations of VF were compared between participants who delivered SGA versus non-SGA newborns.

RESULTS

only low levels of ACE were associated with significantly increased risk for SGA (for a cut-off value, LR: 1.4-3.6).

CONCLUSIONS

Circulating levels of VF are not sufficient predictors of SGA in pregnancies complicated by gestational hypertension/preeclampsia.