Prediction of small-for-gestational-age neonates: screening by biophysical and biochemical markers at 19-24 weeks

Prediction of stillbirth from maternal factors, fetal biometry and uterine artery Doppler at 19-24 weeks

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the performance of screening for all stillbirths and those due to impaired placentation and unexplained or other causes using a combination of maternal factors, fetal biometry and uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA-PI) at 19-24 weeks' gestation and to compare this performance with that of screening by UtA-PI alone.

METHODS

This was a prospective screening study of 70 003 singleton pregnancies including 69 735 live births and 268 (0.38%) antepartum stillbirths; 159 (59%) were secondary to impaired placentation and 109 (41%) were due to other or unexplained causes. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to develop a model for prediction of stillbirth based on a combination of maternal factors, fetal biometry and UtA-PI.

RESULTS

Combined screening predicted 55% of all stillbirths, including 75% of those due to impaired placentation and 23% of those that were unexplained or due to other causes, at a false-positive rate of 10%. Within the impaired placentation group, the detection rate of stillbirth < 32 weeks' gestation was higher than that of stillbirth ≥ 37 weeks (88% vs 46%; P < 0.001). The performance of screening by the combined test was superior to that of selecting the high-risk group on the basis of UtA-PI > 90^th percentile for gestational age, which predicted 48% of all stillbirths, 70% of those due to impaired placentation and 15% of those that were unexplained or due to other causes.

CONCLUSIONS

Second-trimester screening by a combination of UtA-PI with maternal factors and fetal biometry can predict a high proportion of stillbirths and, in particular, those that are due to impaired placentation. Copyright © 2016 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Impact of maternal serum levels of Visfatin, AFP, PAPP-A, sFlt-1 and PlGF at 11-13 weeks gestation on small for gestational age births

OBJECTIVE

Investigating potential value of maternal serum Visfatin, sFlt-1, PlGF, AFP, PAPP-A levels at first trimester for prediction of small for gestational age (SGA) at birth.

METHODS

Measurements were performed in 20 SGA and 65 control cases. Logistic regression analysis adjusted for age and weeks of pregnancy at data collection was performed to estimate odds ratios (OR), 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) and p values separately for each potential predictor. A multiple regression model was used to assess the impact of all the promising predictors adjusted for each other. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to indicate the ability to discriminate between SGA cases and controls.

RESULTS

There was an association of serum PlGF levels (OR 0.53 per interquartile range [IQR] increase in PlGF; 95% CI 0.24-1.16), sFlt-1/PlGF ratio (OR 1.42 per IQR increase in sFlt-1/PlGF; 95% CI 1.03-1.96), serum Visfatin levels (OR 0.31 per IQR increase in Visfatin; 95% CI 0.10-0.95) and smoking (OR 4.24; 95% CI 1.10-16.37) with SGA at birth.

CONCLUSIONS

Associations between SGA and lower PlGF, Visfatin levels as well as increased sFlt-1/PlGF ratio and smoking status were detected which may contribute to predict SGA.