Markers of collagen metabolism and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 in term infants

Aim-To study the relation between fetal growth, and markers of collagen met abolism and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) in term infants. Methods-Cord vein plasma was obtained from 67 term infants of gestational a ge 37.1-41.7 weeks (39 appropriate for gestational age (AGA), 11 large for gestational age (LGA; relative birth weight greater than or equal to 2.0 SD ), and 17 small for gestational age (SGA; relative birth weight less than o r equal to -2.0 SD)) for analysis of markers of metabolism of collagen type I (PICP and ICTP) and III (PIIINP) and of IGFBP-1, Results-Negative correlations existed between gestational age and PICP (r = -0.294, p = 0.0158), ICTP (r = -0.338, p = 0.0052), and PIIINP (r = -0.432 , p = 0.0003). These correlations were also found in SGA infants tall p <0. 05). IGFBP-1 showed negative correlations with birth weight and relative bi rth weight (r = -0.644, p = 0.0001, and r = -0.693, p = 0.0001 respectively ) but not with gestational age (p > 0.05). Conclusions-In the term fetus, collagen metabolism is primarily dependent o n maturity and not on intrauterine growth status, whereas IGFBP-1 reflects intrauterine growth independently of maturity.