Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 1 and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 in pre-eclampsia

Objective To investigate circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 1 (IGFBP-1) and IGFBP-3 in the mother and the fetus in pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia, and the relationship between serum levels of IGFBPs and fetal birthweight. Design A prospective study over an 18 month period. Setting A tertiary care academic medical centre. Participants Sixty-six pregnant women with pre-eclampsia (35 cases of mild/moderate preeclampsia and 31 cases of severe pre-eclampsia) and 78 nonpre-eclamptic pregnant women of matched gestational weeks and maternal ages. Main outcome measures Serum concentrations of IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3 at the time of delivery. Results III pre-eclampsia associated with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR): maternal and cord serum IGFBP-1 levels at the time of delivery were elevated. By contrast, circulating IGFBP-3 levels in both the mother and the fetus were lower in pre-eclampsia with IUGR than in nonpre-eclamptic pregnancy. However, there was no difference in serum IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3 levels between pre-eclampsia without IUGR and nonpre-eclamptic pregnancy in both the mother and the fetus. Conclusions In pre-eclampsia, elevated concentrations of circulating IGFBP-1 and decreased serum IGFBP-3 levels were observed in both the mother and the fetus. However, these changes may simply reflect low birthweight in pre-eclampsia.