Cord blood transforming growth factor alpha varies with gestation

Authors: Wagner C. L.; Eicher D. J.; Wagner M. T.; Tribble L. G.

Source: Prenatal and Neonatal Medicine, Volume 6, Number 4, 1 August 2001 , pp. 227-233(7)

Publisher: Parthenon Publishing, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

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Abstract:

Objective To test the hypotheses that transforming growth factor alpha (TGFalpha) is present in cord blood and that TGFalpha concentration is associated with gestational age. Methods Umbilical venous cord blood samples (n = 79) were processed immediately after delivery. Each cord serum sample was analyzed for TGFalpha concentration by radioimmunoassay. Obstetric and neonatal clinical characteristics were also collected. Prematurity was defined as a gestational age of < 37 weeks. The relationship of TGFalpha concentration with clinical characteristics of the cohort was determined. Results TGFalpha was present in all cord blood samples tested. The TGFalpha concentration in the samples varied significantly as a function of gestational age (p = 0.0001). The mean (± SD) cord serum TGFalpha concentration was 16.4 ± 5.9 pg/ml in infants of < 37 weeks' and 27.0 ± 9.7 pg/ml in infants of ge 37 weeks' gestation. A lower mean TGFalpha concentration was associated with low birth weight (p = 0.002), respiratory distress syndrome (p = 0.004) and with infants whose mothers had received betamethasone for fetal lung maturity (p = 0.004) and tocolytic therapy (p = 0.03); however, these differences were no longer significant after controlling for gestational age. Conclusions Cord blood TGFalpha concentration and gestational age were strongly associated, independently of birth weight and ethnicity: infants of ge 37 weeks' gestation had significantly higher TGFalpha concentrations than those of < 37 weeks.

Keywords: CORD BLOOD; GROWTH FACTORS; NEONATE

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

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