Placental growth hormone, pituitary growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor, and ghrelin in umbilical cord blood serum and amniotic fluid.

INTRODUCTION In the search for biomarkers that allow the prediction of neonatal growth and development, placental growth hormone(PGH), pituitary growth hormone (GH1), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and ghrelin concentrations were assessed in the amniotic fluid and in the umbilical cord blood of 92 neonates. MATERIAL AND METHODS The proteins were assayed by the ELISA method. Their concentration values were compared in 57 full-term neonates and 35 prematurely born neonates, as well as in both large (> 4,000 g) and small neonates (< 2,500 g). Also, body mass and placenta mass were compared. RESULTS Statistically significant differences both between prematurely born neonates and full-term neonates and between large and small neonates were obtained only in terms of the body mass of neonates and placenta mass. The concentration values of the hormones studied did not show statistically significant differences. A distinct tendency was noticed towards an increase in PGH concentration in both prematurely born and small neonates. In large neonates, statistically significantly higher IGF-1 concentrations were found compared to the prematurely born neonates. CONCLUSIONS Our studies indicate an important role for PGH in maintaining a proper IGF-1 pool and demonstrate the existence of a direct influence on the function of the placenta in prematurely born neonates through the activation of compensation mechanisms,which stimulate IGF-1 synthesis.