RESUMO
Intrauterine growth retardation [IUGR] contributes significantly to fetal morbidity and mortality, but its etiology is unknown in most cases. The aim of this study was to examine the association between inherited thrombophilia and IUGR. A case-control study was performed in a tertiary referral center [Afzalipour Hospital] over 2-years period [2010-2011]. Cases [n=25] were women who had pregnancies complicated by IUDR and control subjects [n=25] were women who had normal growth fetuses. All women were tested for inherited thrombophilia at least 4 weeks after delivery. Main outcome measure was prevalence of maternal thrombophlia. Genotyping for factor V Leiden, prothrombin gene [nucleotide G20210A], and MTHFR [C677T] mutation was performed by PCR technique. Protein C, S and antithrombin III activity were determined with a clotting assay [STA-Staclot, France]. The prevalence of hereditary thrombophilia was 68% [n=17] in IUGR group, and 32% [n=8] in control group [OR: 1.5, p=0.011, 95% CI: 1.3-14.8]. The frequency of MTHFR [C677T] gene mutation [p=0.037; OR: 3.69] and protein S deficiency [p=0.034; OR: 5.41] was significantly increased in the group with IUGR compared with the control group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in prothrombin G20210A mutation [p=0.490] and protein C deficiency [p=0.609]. A significant difference in the frequency of multiple thrombophilias was detected between the two groups [p=0.009]. This study revealed that protein S deficiency and MTHFR gene mutation are more prevalent in pregnancies with IUGR