Reduced maternal serum concentrations of angiopoietin‐2 in the first trimester precede intrauterine growth restriction associated with placental insufficiency

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate whether maternal serum levels of angiopoietin‐2 (Ang‐2) and pregnancy‐associated plasma protein A (PAPP‐A) are associated with subsequent intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Ang‐2 was measured in 29 nonpregnant and 44 pregnant women at 10–13 weeks of gestation. The median concentration of Ang‐2 was 26.61 ng/ml in normal pregnant women compared with 1.71 ng/ml in nonpregnant controls (P < 0.01). Women who subsequently developed severe IUGR had lower levels of Ang‐2 compared with normal pregnant controls (P < 0.01). PAPP‐A levels were similar in all pregnant groups. These findings suggest that Ang‐2 should be evaluated for its ability to predict pregnancies that later are affected by IUGR.