Maternal serum insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) and binding proteins IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3 at 11-13 weeks' gestation in pregnancies delivering small for gestational age neonates

ObjectiveTo investigate the possible value of maternal serum concentration of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), IGF binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) and IGFBP-3 at 11-13 weeks' gestation in the prediction of small-for-gestational age (SGA) neonates.Study designMaternal serum concentrations of IGF-I, IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3 at 11-13 weeks were measured in 60 cases that subsequently delivered SGA neonates in the absence of pre-eclampsia, and compared to 120 non-SGA controls.ResultsIn the SGA group, compared to the non-SGA group, there was significantly lower median IGF-I (61.8, IQR 43.4-93.4 ng/mL vs 94.9, IQR 56.7-131.2 ng/mL, p = 0.002) and IGFBP-1 (58.2, IGR 39.8-84.9 ng/mL vs 81.4, IGR 57.3-105.5 ng/mL, p = 0.002) but not IGFBP-3 (54.5, IGR 45.6-61.5 ng/mL vs 55.4, IGR 47.4-64.9 ng/mL, p = 0.402). However, after multiple regression analysis and adjustment for maternal characteristics, these biomarkers were not useful in predicting SGA.ConclusionMaternal serum IGF-I, IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3 at 11-13 weeks are unlikely to be useful biochemical markers for early prediction of SGA.