Independent risk factors for a small placenta and a small-for-gestational-age infant at 35-41weeks of gestation: An association with circulating angiogenesis-related factor levels at 19-31weeks of gestation

AimOur aim was to investigate the effects of angiogenesis-related factor levels at 19-25 and 26-31weeks of gestation (WG) on the later occurrence of a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) placenta (small placenta) or an SGA infant delivered at 35-41WG. MethodsWe measured plasma levels of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) and placental growth factor (PlGF), and the serum level of soluble endoglin (sEng) in 679 pregnant women with blood sampling at both 19-25 and 26-31WG in a prospective study. A small placenta and an SGA infant were defined as <10th percentile, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed using maternal factors, a high mean pulsatility index (high mPI) of the uterine artery in the second trimester, and angiogenesis-related factor levels. ResultsRegarding the occurrence of a small placenta, low PlGF at 19-25WG (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 2.4 [1.01-5.7]) and a high mPI (2.5 [1.4-4.3]) were independent risk factors. Moreover, low PlGF at 26-31WG (3.3 [1.5-7.0]) was also an independent risk factor after adjusting for the effect of mPI. Concerning the occurrence of an SGA infant, a high mPI (2.8 [1.6-5.2]) and high sEng at 26-31WG (2.3 [1.2-4.5]) were independent risk factors. ConclusionLow levels of PlGF at 19-25 and 26-31WG were independent risk factors for a small placenta at 35WG; and a high sEng at 26-31WG was an independent risk factor for an SGA infant at 35WG.