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Can maternal antiphospholipid antibodies predict the birth of a small-for-gestational age child?
1Department of Community Medicine and General Practice, Medical Faculty, University of Trondheim, Norway.
Insights
Maternal antiphospholipid antibodies (aPA) levels measured at 33 weeks gestation do not predict small for gestational age (SGA) infants in parous women. This study found no significant difference in aPA levels between mothers of SGA and non-SGA infants.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Immunology
- Perinatal Medicine
Background:
- Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPA) are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.
- Small for gestational age (SGA) is a common complication in pregnancy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal antiphospholipid antibodies (aPA) and fetal growth retardation (SGA).
Main Methods:
- A nested case-control study was conducted within a prospective cohort of 1552 women.
- Cases included 138 mothers of SGA infants (birthweight < 10th percentile).
- Controls (n=276) were mothers of non-SGA infants; aPA levels were measured at 33 weeks gestation.
Main Results:
- Antiphospholipid antibody (aPA) levels above the 97.5th percentile were found in 2.5% of cases and 1.2% of controls.
- The difference in aPA levels between mothers of SGA and non-SGA infants was not statistically significant.
Conclusions:
- Maternal aPA measurements at 33 weeks gestation are not a reliable predictor for identifying infants at risk of being small for gestational age.
- Further research may be needed to explore other predictive markers for SGA in parous women.
Background:
The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the maternal level of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPA) measured by anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) and fetal growth retardation (SGA).
Methods:
A nested case control design was carried out in a prospective cohort study of 1552 para I and para II women. The study group consisted of all 138 women who gave birth to a SGA-child (defined as birthweight < 10th percentile). A control group of 276 women was randomly selected from mothers of non-SGA children. Levels of aPA were measured in banked sera drawn from the women in the 33rd week of pregnancy and compared between cases and controls.
Results:
There were 3 (2.5%) sera with aPA above 97.5 percentile among the cases and 3 (1.2%) among the controls. This difference was not statistically significant.
Conclusion:
Antiphospholipid antibody measurements obtained at 33 weeks of gestation cannot be used to assess the risk of birth of a small for gestational age infant among parous women.