Levels of insulin-like growth factor-I and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 in pregnancy with preterm delivery
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1Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Lin-Kou Medical Centre, Taiwan.
Insights
Maternal serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) levels were studied in relation to preterm delivery. Findings suggest neither IGF-I nor IGFBP-1 significantly impacts preterm birth risk.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive endocrinology
- Maternal-fetal medicine
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Preterm delivery is a significant obstetric complication with multifactorial etiology.
- Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) are crucial in fetal growth and development.
- Their potential role in the pathophysiology of preterm birth warrants investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between maternal serum levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-1 and the occurrence of preterm delivery.
- To compare these levels in women with preterm delivery versus those with term delivery.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study conducted over 12 months at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London.
- Serum samples were collected from nonpregnant women, pregnant women at various gestational ages, women delivering at term, and women with preterm delivery.
- Maternal serum IGF-I and IGFBP-1 concentrations were quantified using radioimmunoassay.
Main Results:
- Maternal serum IGF-I concentrations demonstrated a progressive increase throughout pregnancy.
- In the third trimester, singleton preterm deliveries were associated with lower IGF-I and higher IGFBP-1 levels compared to normal pregnancies.
- Maternal IGFBP-1 levels showed an inverse correlation with birthweight in singleton preterm deliveries.
Conclusions:
- The study found no significant evidence that IGF-I or IGFBP-1 plays a critical role in preterm delivery.
- Maternal serum concentrations of IGF-I and IGFBP-1 were found to be similar between preterm and term deliveries.
- Further research may be needed to elucidate the complex mechanisms underlying preterm birth.
Objective:
To investigate the relationship between preterm delivery and maternal serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) levels.
Design:
A study over a 12 month period in which all samples were collected according to a pre-set protocol.
Setting:
St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London.
Subjects:
Thirty-eight nonpregnant adult females, 456 pregnant women at various gestational ages, 84 women with average-for-gestational-age babies at term delivery, and 49 pregnant women with preterm delivery (44 with singleton pregnancy and five with twin pregnancy).
Main Outcome Measures:
Serum IGF-I and IGFBP-1 levels were determined by radioimmunoassay.
Results:
Serum IGF-I concentrations increased as pregnancy progressed. In the third trimester, serum IGF-I levels in singleton preterm deliveries were lower than those in normal pregnancies, and IGFBP-1 concentrations were higher than those in normal pregnancies. This phenomenon was not obvious in the second trimester. Maternal circulating IGFBP-1 levels were correlated inversely with birthweight in women with singleton preterm delivery.
Conclusions:
Neither IGF-I nor IGFBP-1 appears to play a significant role in preterm delivery since maternal serum IGF-I and IGFBP-1 levels are similar in preterm and term deliveries.