New research to be published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology examines how oxidative stress in pregnancy can be detected via a simple, non-invasive test, so that appropriate care can be given to fetuses suspected of being growth restricted.
Oxidative stress is defined as an imbalance in the prooxidant-antioxidant system, which could lead to cellular damage. Previous studies have shown the association between oxidative stress and complications arising during pregnancy such as FGR and pre-eclampsia.
Pregnant women attending University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust from 2004 to 2006 were recruited into the study. Those with low-risk pregnancies with no current or pre-existing medical illness were selected for the study. Women with substance (drug and alcohol) misuse problems and mental illness were excluded from the study.
Researchers collected spot urine samples from 110 pregnant women at late first trimester (12 ± 2 weeks) and during the late second trimester (28 ± 2 weeks). The women were divided equally into case and control groups with the women in the case group delivering small for gestational age (SGA) babies and those in the control group giving birth to babies who were appropriate for gestational age (AGA), based on measurements using the Centile Calculator of the Perinatal Institute (www.gestation.net).
The urine samples were then analysed for 8-oxo-7, 8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG), a biomarker for oxidative stress. The research team found significantly higher concentrations of urinary 8-oxodG in pregnancies that had SGA births in comparison to mothers whose babies were AGA.
Dr Neelam Potdar from the Reproductive Sciences Section at the Leicester Royal Infirmary, who was involved in the research said "This study conducted at the University of Leicester and University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust showed that the levels of 8-oxodG, at 12 and 28 weeks of pregnancy were significantly increased in the urine of women who subsequently delivered small babies compared to the levels in those with well grown babies.
"This increase may reflect early placental changes and if confirmed in further studies it could be used as a non-invasive, potential biomarker for identifying women who will have small babies".
Professor Philip Steer BJOG editor-in-chief said, "This is an interesting pilot study since it reveals to us an early indicator of SGA. Further large-scale studies on different populations are needed to confirm the results.
"This is an interesting development in obstetric science since what we have here is a new test to predict if pregnancies will be further complicated by FGR."
Ends
Notes
BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology is owned by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) but is editorially independent and published monthly by Wiley-Blackwell. The journal features original, peer-reviewed, high-quality medical research in all areas of obstetrics and gynaecology worldwide. Please quote ‘BJOG' or ‘BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology' when referring to the journal.
For more information, please contact the RCOG press office on 020 7772 6446 or 020 7772 6357.
Reference
Potdar N, Singh R, Mistry V, Evans MD, Farmer PB, Konje JC, Cooke MS. First-trimester increase in oxidative stress and risk of small-for-gestational age fetus. BJOG 2009; DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2008.02096.x.
