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Effect of vascular endothelial growth factor on fetal vessels among obese pregnant women
Author(s) -
Janbakhishov Turab,
Çağlayan Erkan,
Acet Ferruh,
Altunyurt Sabahattin,
Özer Erdener
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1002/ijgo.13346
Subject(s) - medicine , vascular endothelial growth factor , body mass index , obesity , pregnancy , obstetrics , birth weight , fetus , endocrinology , vegf receptors , genetics , biology
Abstract Objective To determine the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in placental hypoperfusion in obesity. Methods The prospective study enrolled women with a first‐trimester singleton pregnancy in Izmir, Turkey, between January and April 2011. Participants were divided into three groups: obese (body mass index [BMI, calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters] >30) with cesarean delivery; normal weight (BMI <30) with vaginal delivery (NVD); and healthy controls (BMI <30) with cesarean delivery. Before delivery, serum C‐reactive protein (CRP), and uterine and fetal Doppler measurements were taken. VEGF was evaluated immunohistochemically from the umbilical cord. Results Overall, 109 women completed the study: obesity group (n=13, 11.9%), NVD group (n=50, 45.9%), and control group (n=46, 42.2%). Serum CRP was higher in the obesity group than in the control or NVD groups ( P =0.009). VEGF score was highest in the NVD group (9.39 ± 3.11), and lowest in the obesity group (4.58 ± 2.78) ( P <0.001). VEGF score decreased by 0.81 for each increase in BMI of 1 ( P =0.002). Conclusions Maternal obesity was related to decreased VEGF expression. Although not supported by Doppler findings, decreased VEGF expression owing to maternal obesity might trigger endothelial dysfunction and inflammation.