Maternal serum protein S forms in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction

Objectives: The clinical relevance of protein S deficiency in pregnant women remains controversial. Major debate exists regarding which parameter (total protein S antigen, free protein S antigen or functional protein S) should be evaluated in order to define proteins deficiency. The present study aimed to identify which of these parameters correlate with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Study design: A retrospective case-control study of women with IUGR (n = 27) and healthy controls (n = 123) in the third trimester of pregnancy. Results: The maternal serum of women in the IUGR group had significantly lower levels of functional and free protein S compared with the control group: 54.07 +/- 24.72% vs 65.20 +/- 17.95% (p < 0.005) and 42.88 +/- 11.01% vs 56.64 +/- 13.30% (p < 0.0001), respectively. No significant correlation was found between total protein S and IUGR. Conclusions: Levels of functional and free protein S are correlated with IUGR. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.