ABSTRACT
To verify whether progesterone concentration is changed in the maternal serum of intra-uterine growth retardation [IUGR] pregnancies and to assess if there is a relationship between maternal progesterone and fetal Doppler velocimetry. Thirty-five patients with intrauterine growth retardation infants and thirty-seven pregnant women with appropriate for gestational age [AGA] fetuses were enrolled in the study. Maternal progesterone serum was determined. Doppler velocimetry of umbilical and middle cerebral arteries [MCA] were obtained in all fetuses. Maternal progesterone level in IUGR infants [58.49 +/- 7.06 ng/ml] had no significant difference with AGA fetuses [58.13 +/- 7.87 ng/ml] [p=0.96]. In the IUGR group, umbilical artery resistive index [RI], pulsatility index [PI] and systolic/ diastolic [S/D] ratio were higher than the normal group [p<0.001], and MCA RI [p value=0.014] and PI [p=0.012] were significantly less than the IUGR group. Besides, RI C/U in the IUGR group was significantly less than the normal group [p<0.001]. A negative significant correlation was detected between maternal progesterone level and MCA PI [r=-0.38] and RI [r=-0.38] in the AGA group. It seems that progesterone has no effect on fetal placental circulation and serum progesterone can not discriminate IUGR infants from AGA infants. Progesterone is a poor marker for placental dysfunction