BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to compare procalcitonin and CRP levels in maternal serum and fetal cord blood samples of patients with idiopathic intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) vs. a control group of appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present prospective study included 43 patients: 27 patients with idiopathic IUGR (IUGR group) and 26 AGA infants at similar gestational ages (control group). Maternal serum and fetal cord blood samples were collected from the control group and IUGR group at time of delivery. Procalcitonin and CRP levels were analyzed in maternal blood. Procalcitonin and CRP levels were analyzed in fetal cord blood.

RESULTS: The median value of CRP levels in maternal blood was 47.5 mg/dl in the IUGR group and 15.255 mg/dl in the AGA group (p=0.001). The mdian CRP level in cord blood was 36.4 mg/dl (range, 17.3–47.2) in the IUGR group and 10.1 mg/dl (range, 4.07–16.5) in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.001). The median maternal serum procalcitonin level was 0.05 µg/l in the IUGR group and 0.04 µg/l in the AGA group, and the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.435). The median procalcitonin value in fetal cord blood was 0.06 µg/l in the IUGR group and 0.04 µg/l in the AGA group, and the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.741).

CONCLUSIONS: Maternal serum and fetal cord CRP levels were higher in the IUGR group; however, there was no difference in procalcitonin, which is another inflammatory indicator, between the groups.

Keywords: C-Reactive Protein, Calcitonin, Fetal Growth Retardation, Fetal Blood, Pregnancy, procalcitonin