ABSTRACT
Objective: This study aimed to compare the maternal blood amphiregulin (AR) levels of pregnant women with early-onset fetal growth restriction (FGR) and healthy pregnant women and to correlate them with Doppler findings to determine the association of AR with early-onset FGR. Material and Methods: Outpatient pregnant women who were between 18-45-years, >20 and ≤32-weeks, with no antibodies or infection markers for Toxoplasmosis, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, hepatitis and human immunodeficiency virus conditions, with a low risk of genetic disease or malformation in first trimester screening test, with no pathologic findings in detailed ultrasonography were included in the study. Doppler measurements were evaluated. Two groups were formed as FGR and healthy control group. Delphi consensus methodology was used for FGR diagnosis. Delphi consensus criteria were fetuses with an estimated birth weight (EFW) or abdominal circumference below the 3rd percentile or reversed flow or loss of end-diastolic flow in the umbilical artery, were fetuses with EFW below 10th percentile and uterine artery pulsatility index (PI)>95th percentile or umbilical artery PI>95th percentile. For AR analyses, 4 mm of venous blood was taken and centrifuged. Serum samples were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in serum AR levels between groups (Group-FGR, Group-C; 796.65 ng/L, 740.21 ng/L, p=0.765, respectively). There was no statistically significant association between serum AR values and umbilical artery changes, notch positivity in bilateral uterine arteries, pulsatility indices, oligohydramnios, and mode of delivery (p>0.05). Conclusion: Maternal serum AR levels may not predict early-onset FGR disease, and Doppler findings.