Nerve growth factor, birth outcome and pre-eclampsia

The present study compares nerve growth factor (NGF) levels between preeclamptic (PE) (n =86) and normotensive (NT) women (n = 105) and their associations with blood pressure and infant size. Maternal plasma NGF levels were reduced (p < 0.05)in the PE group as compared to the NTgroup. Furthermore, NGF levels were reduced in PE mothers delivering low birth weight babies (LBW) as compared to NT mothers delivering LBW babies. Maternal NGF levels were negatively (p = 0.029) associated with blood pressure in preeclamptic mothers. Cord NGF levels were negatively associated (p = 0.026) with birth weight in the normotensive group. NGF levels are differently regulated in preeclamptic and normotensive mothers delivering LBW babies. Future studies need to investigate mechanisms underlying this pathophysiology and follow-up of these babies to better understand the role of NGF in brain development in later life. (C) 2010 ISDN. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.