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Detection of vascular endothelial growth factor in maternal serum and its significance in early pregnancy

Detection of vascular endothelial growth factor in maternal serum and its significance in early pregnancy
Detection of vascular endothelial growth factor in maternal serum and its significance in early pregnancy

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a cytokine essential for normal angiogenesis and successful reproduction. Measurements of VEGF concentrations in peripheral serum have to date been largely confined to non-pregnant subjects, with little data available in pregnancy. This thesis has sought to develop an assay with which to measure serum VEGF concentrations in pregnancy, to investigate the relationships between serum VEGF and pregnancy-related hormones in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, and to examine the associations between serum VEGF and fetal and placental growth.

A radioimmunoassay (RIA) to measure serum total immunoreactive VEGF was developed, and its sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility determined. Using the RIA, serum VEGF concentrations were significantly elevated in pregnant women compared to non-pregnant women. Comparison of the RIA with a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) showed that the ELISA was unable to detect VEGF in the majority of sera from pregnant women, but could readily detect VEGF in non-pregnancy sera. This was shown to be due to an increase in the concentration of specific VEGF binding proteins in pregnancy sera affecting recognition of VEGF by the ELISA.

Using the RIA, serum VEGF concentrations in the first trimester were positively correlated with serum concentrations of human chorionic gonadotrophin and progesterone. In addition, VEGF concentrations at 6 weeks' gestation were positively correlated with placental volume in mid-pregnancy, and positively correlated with placental weight and fetal anthropometric measurements at term.

The importance of VEGF in angiogenesis, placental development and pregnancy outcome are discussed. The significance of the increase in pregnancy of VEGF and its binding proteins, the influence of maternal physique and the role of VEGF in securing the maternal cardiovascular adaptation to pregnancy are considered.

University of Southampton
Evans, Phylip Wyn
Evans, Phylip Wyn

Evans, Phylip Wyn (1998) Detection of vascular endothelial growth factor in maternal serum and its significance in early pregnancy. University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.

Record type: Thesis (Doctoral)

Abstract

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a cytokine essential for normal angiogenesis and successful reproduction. Measurements of VEGF concentrations in peripheral serum have to date been largely confined to non-pregnant subjects, with little data available in pregnancy. This thesis has sought to develop an assay with which to measure serum VEGF concentrations in pregnancy, to investigate the relationships between serum VEGF and pregnancy-related hormones in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, and to examine the associations between serum VEGF and fetal and placental growth.

A radioimmunoassay (RIA) to measure serum total immunoreactive VEGF was developed, and its sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility determined. Using the RIA, serum VEGF concentrations were significantly elevated in pregnant women compared to non-pregnant women. Comparison of the RIA with a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) showed that the ELISA was unable to detect VEGF in the majority of sera from pregnant women, but could readily detect VEGF in non-pregnancy sera. This was shown to be due to an increase in the concentration of specific VEGF binding proteins in pregnancy sera affecting recognition of VEGF by the ELISA.

Using the RIA, serum VEGF concentrations in the first trimester were positively correlated with serum concentrations of human chorionic gonadotrophin and progesterone. In addition, VEGF concentrations at 6 weeks' gestation were positively correlated with placental volume in mid-pregnancy, and positively correlated with placental weight and fetal anthropometric measurements at term.

The importance of VEGF in angiogenesis, placental development and pregnancy outcome are discussed. The significance of the increase in pregnancy of VEGF and its binding proteins, the influence of maternal physique and the role of VEGF in securing the maternal cardiovascular adaptation to pregnancy are considered.

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Published date: 1998

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Local EPrints ID: 463501
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/463501
PURE UUID: 371cdbb5-15fe-4ee9-96af-6a0afc1012bc

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Date deposited: 04 Jul 2022 20:52
Last modified: 04 Jul 2022 20:52

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Author: Phylip Wyn Evans

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