Placental isoferritin (PLF):: Early predictor of fetal growth retardation

Objective: Maternal immunoreaction against the embryo can be responsible for fetal growth retardation. The secretion of PLF during pregnancy could be reliable for a diminished immunoreaction of maternal lymphocytes against the embryo. The aim of the present study was to elucidate a possible correlation between PLF and fetal growth retardation. Methods: In this study, blood samples of 402 pregnant women were obtained between the 12th and 16th weeks of gestation. The serum levels of PLF were compared with birth weight, percentile of birth weight, and gestational age. Results: Women with children whose birth weight was below or equal to the 10th percentile for gestational age showed significantly lower PLF levels (11.4 U/ml, n = 107) as compared with women whose newborns were of normal weight (19.9 U/ml, n = 295; p < 0.004). Conclusion: Determination of the PLF level could serve to identify women at risk of having growth-retarded babies. Copyright (C) 1999 S. Karger AG, Basel.