Unit:
Τομέας Υγείας - Μητέρας - ΠαιδιούLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Author:
Antonakopoulos Nikolaos
Dissertation committee:
Κρεατσάς Γεώργιος, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική, ΕΚΠΑ
Λουτράδης Δημήτρης, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική, ΕΚΠΑ
Δεληγεώρογλου Ευθύμιος, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική, ΕΚΠΑ
Καλανταρίδου Σοφία, Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική, ΕΚΠΑ
Μαστοράκος Γεώργιος, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική, ΕΚΠΑ
Βραχνής Νικόλαος, Επίκ. Καθηγητής, Ιατρική, ΕΚΠΑ
Ηλιοδρομίτη Ζωή, Επίκ. Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Συσχέτιση του νευροτροφικού παράγοντα BDNF στο αμνιακό υγρό κυήσεων δευτέρου τριμήνου με την ενδομήτρια ανάπτυξη του εμβρύου
Translated title:
Association between Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) levels in 2nd trimester amniotic fluid and fetal development
Summary:
The development of the fetal nervous system mirrors the general fetal development, this comprising a combination of genetic resources and effects of the intrauterine environment. Our aim was to assess the early 2nd trimester amniotic fluid levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and to investigate its association with fetal growth. In accordance with our study design, samples of amniotic fluid were collected from women who underwent amniocentesis early in the 2nd trimester. All pregnancies were followed up until delivery and fetal growth patterns and birth weights were recorded. Pregnancies were divided into three groups based on fetal weight: 1) AGA (appropriate for gestational age), 2) SGA (small for gestational age) and 3) LGA (large for gestational age). We focused on the above three groups as they represent a reflection of the intrauterine growth spectrum. Our results revealed the presence of notably higher BDNF levels in the amniotic fluid of impaired growth restricted fetuses by comparing them with those of normal growth. Both SGA and macrosomic fetuses are characterized by notably higher amniotic fluid levels of BDNF (mean values of 36.3 pg/ml and 35.7 pg/ml, respectively) compared with normal growth fetuses (mean value of 32.7 pg/ml). This difference is statistically significant (p value < 0.05) in SGA fetuses in the extremes of the distribution (below the 3rd centile). In conclusion, there is clear evidence that severe impairment of fetal growth induces the increased production of fetal brain neurotrophic factor as an adaptive mechanism, in reaction to a hostile intrauterine environment, thereby accelerating fetal brain development and maturation.
Main subject category:
Health Sciences
Keywords:
Intrauterine growth restriction, Macrosomia, Neurotrophins, BDNF
Number of references:
294
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Antonakopoulos Nikolaos Phd.pdf
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