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Is there a relationship between cord blood pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A and birth weight and length?

Dursun A Senses1, Abdurrahman Coskun, Mine Kiseli

  • 1Abant Izzet Baysal University, Duzce School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Konuralp, Duzce, Turkey. sensesdali@yahoo.com

Early Human Development
|December 13, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Higher cord blood pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) levels in newborns are linked to shorter birth length and lower birth weight. PAPP-A appears to influence birth length more significantly than birth weight.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatology
  • Endocrinology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Low first-trimester serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) in mothers is associated with intrauterine growth retardation in infants.
  • PAPP-A is suggested to be crucial for insulin-like growth factor (IGF) availability and activity, impacting fetal growth.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between cord blood PAPP-A levels and birth anthropometrics (length and weight) in neonates.
  • To determine if PAPP-A levels correlate with variations in birth length and weight.

Main Methods:

  • The study included 97 full-term, live-born neonates.
  • Cord blood samples were collected post-birth for PAPP-A level measurement using ELISA.
  • Neonatal birth length and weight were recorded.

Main Results:

  • A significant negative correlation was observed between cord blood PAPP-A levels and both birth weight (r=-0.23, P=0.023) and length (r=-0.24, P=0.016).
  • Newborns with shorter lengths exhibited significantly higher mean PAPP-A levels compared to normal and longer length neonates (P=0.022, P=0.002).
  • While differences in mean PAPP-A levels were noted among weight-classified groups, they were not statistically significant (P>0.05).

Conclusions:

  • Increased cord blood PAPP-A levels are associated with decreased birth length and weight.
  • PAPP-A has a more pronounced effect on birth length than on birth weight.
Abstract

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