Clinical trial NCT04630223: Levels of Endocan in Umbilical Cord Blood Samples of Pregnant Females With Intrauterine Growth Retardation
Official title: Comparison of Umbilical Cord Blood Levels of Endocan in Pregnant Females With and Without Intrauterine Growth Retardation
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Conditions: Intrauterine Retardation
Keywords: intrauterine growth retardation
umbilical cord blood
proteoglycans
pregnancy outcomes
Lead sponsor: Van Bölge Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi
Sponsor class: OTHER_GOV
First posted: 2020-11-16
Enrollment: 100
Sex: FEMALE
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 35
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Observational model: CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective: PROSPECTIVE
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Pregnant females attending outpatient clinics of obstetrics in a tertiary hospital.

Brief summary: As a proteoglycan secreted from endothelial cells, expression, and secretion of endocan increases in the endothelium of several tissues secondary to inflammation. It can be regarded as an indicator of endothelial damage. Besides, it is both a target and a modulator of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling pathway. Considering its action mechanisms, it can provide information about angiogenesis, inflammation, and vascular permeability.

It is known that intrauterine growth retardation mainly occurs as a result of endothelial dysfunction and abnormal angiogenesis in the placenta. In previous studies, maternal serum endocan levels have also been shown to be increased in cases of preeclampsia, which is mainly characterized by placental dysfunction.So, we hypothesize that there may be an association between endocan levels and intrauterine growth retardation.

Detailed description: Endocan is a proteoglycan that is closely associated with inflammation. Its levels increase in association with the severity of endothelial damage. Endothelial dysfunction and abnormal angiogenesis in the placental tissues are the main pathophysiological mechanisms leading to intrauterine growth retardation.

It has been known that there was a significant association between maternal serum levels of endocan and preeclampsia. In cases with preeclampsia, increased serum levels of endocan in maternal blood samples has been reported.

Intrauterine growth retardation is a situation in which endothelial dysfunction and abnormal angiogenesis are the leading disturbances. In fetuses with intrauterine growth retardation, a hypoxic environment secondary to uteroplacental insufficiency. In previous studies, increased levels of endocan in maternal blood samples have been shown. Although maternal blood can be a good reflector of situations both in fetuses and their mothers, measurement of endocan in umbilical cord blood samples may better represent the pathology in fetuses.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

For "intrauterine growth retardation" group:

* consent to participate study
* detection of intrauterine growth retardation during follow up of pregnancy

For "healthy fetuses" group:

* consent to participate study
* absence of intrauterine growth retardation during follow up of pregnancy

Exclusion Criteria:

* multiple pregnancy
* presence of major developmental anomalies of fetuses
* detection of chromosomal anomalies
* malnourished mothers
* vegetarian diet of mothers
* use of cigarette and alcohol during pregnancy
* previous history of stillbirths

Primary outcomes:
measure: endocan in umbilical cord blood
timeFrame: just after delivery of fetus at clamping of umbilical cord
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Van
country: Turkey
facility: Van Region Education and Training Hospital
Study officials:
References:
citation: Kucukbas GN, Kara O, Yuce D, Uygur D. Maternal plasma endocan levels in intrauterine growth restriction. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2022 Apr;35(7):1295-1300. doi: 10.1080/14767058.2020.1749591. Epub 2020 Apr 14.
citation: Lan X, Liu Z. Circulating endocan and preeclampsia: a meta-analysis. Biosci Rep. 2020 Jan 31;40(1):BSR20193219. doi: 10.1042/BSR20193219.
citation: Szpera-Gozdziewicz A, Kosicka K, Gozdziewicz T, Krzyscin M, Wirstlein P, Siemiatkowska A, Glowka F, Wender-Ozegowska E, Breborowicz GH. Maternal Serum Endocan Concentration in Pregnancies Complicated by Intrauterine Growth Restriction. Reprod Sci. 2019 Mar;26(3):370-376. doi: 10.1177/1933719118773480. Epub 2018 May 9.