Circulating SPINT1 is a biomarker of pregnancies with poor placental function and fetal growth restriction.

ABSTRACT: Placental insufficiency can cause fetal growth restriction and stillbirth. There are no reliable screening tests for placental insufficiency, especially near-term gestation when the risk of stillbirth rises. Here we show a strong association between low circulating plasma serine peptidase inhibitor Kunitz type-1 (SPINT1) concentrations at 36 weeks' gestation and low birthweight, an indicator of placental insufficiency. We generate a 4-tier risk model based on SPINT1 concentrations, where the highest risk tier has approximately a 2-5 fold risk of birthing neonates with birthweights under the 3^rd, 5^th, 10^th and 20^th centiles, whereas the lowest risk tier has a 0-0.3 fold risk. Low SPINT1 is associated with antenatal ultrasound and neonatal anthropo

SUBMITTER: Kaitu'u-Lino TJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7228948 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature