COMPARISON OF PLGF LEVELS, AMONG SMALL FOR GESTATIONAL AGE AND APPROPRIATE FOR GESTATIONAL AGE MOTHERS

Objective. Early detection of small for gestational age fetuses can prevent infant morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to compare the levels of Placental Growth Factor among small for gestational age with appropriate for gestational age mothers and to identify the predictive value of PlGF in detecting pregnancies with Intra uterine growth retardation in local population. Design. Quasi experimental (comparative cross-sectional) study. Place & duration of study. Gynecological department of Ayub Medical complex, Abbottabad from August 2021 to January 2022. Methodology. The studied population included total 68 mothers in last trimester with 34 in each group, i.e. appropriate for gestational age and small for gestational age. Fetal size was estimated either by clinical examination (symphysis fundal height) or estimated fetal weight by ultrasound examination. Sociodemographic along with reproductive history were recorded and blood samples analyzed for PlGF difference in both groups. Results. The median age of mothers was 32.5 years. The PlGF in small for gestational age was observed in the below normal concentration (mean value = 126.7 pg/mL) while it was observed in normal ranges in appropriate for gestational age mothers (mean value = 24.2 pg/ml) with P-value (<0.001). Conclusion. Mothers with small for gestational age were having significantly lower placental growth factor levels compared to mothers with appropriate for gestational age.