ELEVATED LEVELS OF INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH-FACTOR BINDING PROTEIN-1 IN FETAL DISTRESS

Objective To investigate the association between fetal distress (abnor mal cardiotocograph tracing and/or a low fetal pH) and the levels of f etal IGFBP-1. Design Prospective comparative study. Subjects and metho ds Twenty-two women in labour with evidence of fetal distress defined by FIGO criteria and 19 women in uncomplicated labour, The gestation r ange was 37 to 32 weeks and birthweight range was 2500 to 4240 g. IGFB P-1 was determined by radioimmunoassay. Results The umbilical levels o f IGFBP-1 were significantly higher in the study group compared with t he control group (median 282.5 mu g/l versus 128 mu g/l, P = 0.0046; M ann-Whitney U test), There was a significant inverse correlation betwe en fetal IGFBP-1 and cord pH (r = 0.58, P less than or equal to 0.0001 ). There was no difference between the maternal serum levels of IGFBP- 1 in the two groups. Conclusion Umbilical IGFBP-1 is elevated in assoc iation with fetal distress.