A maternal serum metabolite ratio predicts fetal growth restriction at term

Publication: Nature Medicine

Ulla Sovio, Neil Goulding, Nancy McBride, Emma Cook, Francesca Gaccioli, D. Stephen Charnock-Jones, Debbie A. Lawlor & Gordon C. S. Smith

11 March 2020


Summary: 

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) means that the fetus fails to grow according to its growth potential. The condition is a major cause of stillbirth, neonatal illness and death. Maternal risk factors and ultrasound measurements alone are not effective in screening for fetal growth restriction. Biomarkers in the pregnant woman’s blood could possibly improve screening for FGR.

Using serial maternal serum samples from the Pregnancy Outcome Prediction (POP) study, the research team identified metabolites that were predictive of FGR at term. These were used to calculate a ratio that clearly improves the prediction of FGR over currently known risk factors. They successfully validated the finding in plasma samples from a demographically different Born in Bradford (BiB) study.

Together with ultrasound measurements, the metabolite ratio could possibly be used to improve late pregnancy screening for fetal growth restriction. Screen-positive women could be offered enhanced monitoring and targeted induction of labour to prevent adverse effects associated with FGR.

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