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Published on: June 29, 2013
Second trimester amniotic fluid endothelin-1 concentrations and subsequent development of intrauterine growth
Lavinia Margarit1, Anthony N Griffiths, Vassilios Tsapanos
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital of Patras, Greece. laviniamarg@yahoo.com
Objective:
The purpose of this prospective study was to record endothelin-1 (ET-1) concentrations in the second trimester amniotic fluid and compare these values in women who developed intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) later in pregnancy with those with uneventful pregnancies.
Method:
Amniotic fluid was retrieved by amniocentesis from 125 women in the second trimester of pregnancy. The levels of ET1 were measured by a sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay.
Results:
From the 125 women included in the study 12 had pregnancies that later developed IUGR and 88 had uneventful pregnancies. The ET1 concentration was significantly higher (P<0.005) in women who later developed IUGR than in normal pregnancy (106 pg/ml versus 64.7 pg/ml).
Conclusion:
The amniotic fluid concentration of ET1 is elevated by the second trimester in women who later develop IUGR.
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