Maternal serum copeptin as a marker for fetal growth restriction

ObjectivesCopeptin is a hormone of endogenous stress. The aim was to evaluate whether the measurement of maternal serum copeptin is useful for differentiation between fetal growth retardation and constitutionally small fetuses among small for gestational age fetuses.Study Designprospective case control clinical study.Patients and MethodsMaternal serum copeptin levels were measured by ELISA technique in 53 pregnant females subdivided into a control group (group 1) of 20 women with normal gestation & a group of 33 pregnant women with small for gestational age fetuses. The small for gestational age fetuses were subclassified into constitutionally small fetuses (17 cases) with normal umbilical artery Doppler studies (group 2), and fetal growth restriction with abnormal umbilical artery Doppler studies (16 idiopathic cases) as group 3.ResultsThe fetal growth restricted group had a significantly higher maternal serum copeptin levels as compared with the control group (P < 0.01). The maternal serum copeptin levels in fetal growth restriction were significantly higher than in constitutionally small fetus (P < 0.05).ConclusionMaternal serum copeptin level can differentiate between the normal sized and small for gestational age fetuses. Also, it can differentiate between constitutionally small and growth restricted fetuses.