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Published on: September 5, 2011
Cord blood level of insulin-like growth factor-1 and IGF binding protein-3 in monochorionic twins
Ru-Jeng Teng1, Tzong-Jin Wu1, Fon-Jou Hsieh2
1Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
Insights
Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs) influence fetal growth. In monochorionic twins, IGFBP-3 correlated with birth weight, suggesting its role in fetal growth, while IGF-1 levels appeared genetically determined.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Perinatology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and their binding proteins (IGFBPs) are critical for fetal development.
- The specific roles of IGFs and IGFBPs in the intrauterine growth of monochorionic twins (MCT) remain underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between cord venous blood levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 and fetal growth parameters in monochorionic twins.
- To determine the potential influence of genetic and other factors on these growth mediators in MCT.
Main Methods:
- Collection of cord venous blood from 37 pairs of MCT immediately after birth.
- Quantification of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 concentrations using radioimmunoassay.
- Electronic recording of birth weights (BWs) and placental examination for chorionicity.
Main Results:
- A significant positive correlation was observed between birth weight and cord venous IGFBP-3 levels (r = 0.28, p = 0.015).
- Heavier MCT twins showed a trend towards higher IGFBP-3 levels compared to their lighter co-twins (p = 0.096).
- Female twins exhibited higher IGFBP-3 levels than male twins (p = 0.042), and IGF-1 levels between co-twins were highly correlated (r = 0.73, p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- Cord venous IGF-1 levels in MCT may be primarily regulated by genetic factors.
- IGFBP-3 appears to play a significant role in modulating fetal growth within monochorionic twin pregnancies.
Background/Purpose:
Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and their binding proteins (IGFBPs) are known to modulate fetal growth but their role in intrauterine growth of monochorionic twins (MCT) has not been studied.
Methods:
Cord venous blood was collected directly after birth. IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 in the cord venous blood were quantified by radioimmunoassay. Birth weights (BWs) were obtained electronically. Placentas were examined for chorionicity.
Results:
Cord blood was collected in 37 pairs of MCT (15 pairs were males). BWs ranged from 564 to 3240 g, and gestational ages (GAs) were between 24 weeks and 39 weeks. There was a correlation between BW and cord venous blood IGFBP-3 concentration (r = 0.28, p = 0.015), but not between BW and cord venous blood IGF-1 level. There was no difference in IGF-1 between the heavier twins (30.8 ± 61.8 ng/mL) and lighter twins (33.2 ± 63.7 ng/mL), but a trend (p = 0.096) of higher IGFBP-3 level was demonstrated in heavier twins (3.14 ± 1.23 μg/mL) than in lighter twins (2.71 ± 1.19 μg/mL). The IGFBP-3 levels were higher (p = 0.042) in female twins (3.20 ± 1.33 μg/mL) than in male twins (2.64 ± 1.04 μg/mL). The IGF-1 level of the heavier twins correlated significantly to their lighter co-twin (r = 0.73, p < 0.001).
Conclusion:
Our data showed that cord venous blood IGF-1 level might be controlled mainly by genetic factors. IGFBP-3 might play an important role in fetal growth.
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