Pro-hepcidin concentration in serum of women in uncomplicated pregnancy, pregnancy complicated by premature rupture of membranes and in pregnancy induced hypertension.

UNLABELLED: Pro-hepcidin, mainly synthesized in hepatocytes is the pro-hormone of hepcidin which demonstrates antimicrobial activity and is the body's main regulator of iron homeostasis. THE AIM: The estimation of serum pro-hepcidin concentrations in uncomplicated pregnancy and complicated by premature rupture of membranes (PROM) and in pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The studies were performed in 24 women in pregnancy complicated by premature rupture of membranes, 31 women in pregnancy with induced hypertension and 35 healthy women in corresponding weeks of gestation (third trimester). Concentration of pro-hepcidin, C-reactive protein, white blood cell count, haemoglobin and haematocrit were studied using commercially available kits. RESULTS: Levels of serum pro-hepcidin in studied pregnant women were similar and amounted respectively to 99.6 microg/L, 93.7 microg/L and 98.2 microg/L in PIH, PROM and in the uncomplicated pregnancy group. In the group of patients with PROM and PIH, concentration of haemoglobin was significantly lower than in healthy pregnant women, but remains in the physiological range. In the studied groups values of C-reactive protein and leucocytes count were normal. We did not observe any correlation between the concentration of serum pro-hepcidin and iron status measurements. CONCLUSION: In pregnancies complicated by premature rupture of membranes and pregnancy induced hypertension with normal values of haemoglobin and haematocrit serum pro-hepcidin concentrations are similar to those observed in healthy pregnant women with normal course of pregnancy.

[The effect of tobacco smoking on serum concentration of IGF-I and its binding proteins IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-4 in pregnant women]. / Wplyw palenia tytoniu na stezenia IGF-I oraz jego bialek wiazacych IGFBP-3 i GFBP-4 w surowicy krwi kobiet ciezarnych.

However smoking during pregnancy has been show to result in growth restriction of the fetus but the mechanism by which this occurs has not been adequately clarified. Insulinlike growth factor (IGF) and its insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP) are the main mediators of intrauterine fetal growth. The aim of the study was to estimate the effect of tobacco smoking on serum concentrations of IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-4 in pregnant women. Forty five healthy pregnant women patients of Clinical Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Mother and Child, were divided into two groups: smoking and tobacco abstinent according to questionnaire declaration and serum cotinine concentration. The current smokers were defined as those who had smoked 5 cigarettes per day for 2 years before conception and continued smoking during pregnancy. Serum concentrations of cotinine, IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-4 were determined by immunoenzymatic method. We observed, that in group of smoking mothers the mean serum concentration of cotinine was 82.9 microg/l and correlated positively with number of cigarettes daily consumed (r = 0.47; p < 0.05). In group of tobacco abstinent cotinine in serum was present only in trace amount (range: 0-3.5 microg/l). The mean serum concentration of IGF-I was significantly lower in group of smokers than in non-smoking ones (222,4 microg/L vs 282,1 microg/L; p < 0.05). In tobacco abstinent group we observed positive correlation between gestational age and serum level of IGF-I (r = 0.40; p < 0.05). There was no association among this parameters in smoking pregnant women. In serum of cigarette users the mean concentration of IGFBP-3 was slightly higher as compared to those of tobacco abstinent (6798 microg/L vs 6427 microg/L). In this group level of IGFBP-4 was lower by 20% than in non-smoking ones, but the difference was not statistically significant. Our results indicate that tobacco smoking during pregnancy affect in maternal IGF-I and its binding proteins, which may correlate with smaller birth weight. Further studies will be continued in larger group of women in all trimesters of pregnancy and their children to confirm of this association.