Circulating levels of Elabela in pregnant women complicated with intrauterine growth restriction

This study aimed to detect Elabela concentrations in the serum of normotensive pregnant women complicated with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and compare them with the uncomplicated healthy pregnancies. This prospective case-control study was performed from May 1, 2020 to September 30, 2020. Of the 92 pregnant patients included in the study, we enrolled 49 normotensive patients complicated with IUGR as the study group, and 43 normotensive healthy gestational age-matched and body mass index (BMI)-matched patients without IUGR or additional pregnancy complication as the control group. Demographic and clinical characteristics, and maternal serum Elabela concentrations were recorded. Maternal serum Elabela levels were significantly lower in IUGR pregnancies (4.02±3.42 ng/mL) compared to healthy pregnant women (14.01±18.38 ng/mL, p <0.001). There was a positive intermediate correlation between maternal serum Elabela levels and the birth weight ( r  = 0.308, p  = 0.004). Maternal circulating levels of Elabela were significantly lower in IUGR pregnancies than in healthy pregnant women. Also, birth weight was positively correlated with maternal serum Elabela levels. We consider that Elabela might be a crucial biomarker of the pathophysiologic process in pregnancies complicated by IUGR.