Open AccessEpidermal Growth Factor (Egf) Concentrations in Amniotic Fluid and Maternal Urine During Pregnancy
Author(s) -
Hofmann Glen E.,
Abramowicz Jacques S.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016349009028683
Subject(s) - amniotic fluid , medicine , epidermal growth factor , urine , pregnancy , obstetrics , gynecology , andrology , physiology , fetus , endocrinology , biology , genetics , receptor
Epidermal growth factor (EGF) was measured in amniotic fluid and maternal urine from women undergoing amniocentesis for genetic studies (1 5‐weeks' gestation, n = 36) and lung maturational studies (35–39 weeks' gestation, = 20). Amniotic fluid EGF concentrations (mean ± SD) were higher near term (87 ± 71 pM) than mid‐gestation (35 ± 8 pM) (p < 0.0001 1. Urinary EGF concentrations were higher near mid‐gestation (53.9± 30.8 μg EGF/g creatinine) than near term (33.4f 14.1 μg EGWg creatinine) (p <0.006). There was no correlation between individual amniotic fluid and urinary EGF concentrations. The amniotic fluid EGF concentrations correlated with gestational age. However, there was no relationship between EGF concentrations and pulmonary maturity studies or placental weight from the pregnancies studied near term. We conclude that the concentration of EGF in amniotic fluid increases towards term. The lack of correlation between amniotic fluid and maternal urinary EGF concentrations suggests that there probably is a different source of EGF in the two compartments and that EGF does not cross the placenta to any great extent.