Affiliations: Neonatology Unit, Pediatric Department, Faculty of
Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt | Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine,
Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
Note: [] Corresponding author: Maha H. Mohamed, Ain Shams University,
Cairo, Egypt. Tel.: +20 105287175; E-mail: mahahassan1971@yahoo.com
Abstract: Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a known
mediator of angiogenesis, stimulates the survival of endothelial cells in newly
formed blood vessels. VEGF exerts its effects by binding to two receptors;
VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2. Soluble VEGFR-1 is a potent inhibitor of vascular
endothelial growth factor and placental growth factor. Objective: to test
the hypothesis that serum concentration of the soluble receptor sVEGF-R1 is
increased in infants with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) regardless of
the underlying cause of IUGR. Study design: Serum samples of 30 IUGR and
20 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) neonates were obtained within the
first 24 h of life and kept frozen at −80°C degrees until the time of
assays. Concentrations of sVEGFR-1 were measured by the enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay double sandwich method. Regression analysis was performed
to test the association of IUGR with sVEGFR-1 after controlling for confounding
variables. Results: sVEGFR-1 concentrations in IUGR patients were
increased when compared to control. Patients with preeclamptic mothers had
increased sVEGFR-1 when compared to patients with non-preeclamptic mothers. The
latter had increased concentrations of sVEGFR-1 than control. sVEGFR-1
correlated negatively with birth weight, length and head circumference of the
studied neonates. Conclusion: Concentrations of sVEGFR-1 are increased in
the serum of IUGR neonates when compared to AGA controls. IUGR and preeclampsia
are independently associated with increased sVEGFR-1 concentrations. This
phenomenon presumably reflects a predominance of anti-angiogenic mechanisms
present in IUGR.
