[Changes of maternal and umbilical serum nitric oxide in patients with the intrauterine growth retardation].

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether the levels of maternal and umbilical serum nitric oxide (NO) were changed in cases of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR).

METHODS

Fifteen pregnant women with fetuses of IUGR (IUGR group) and 25 normal pregnant women in late trimester (normal control group) were studied. Maternal and fetal umbilical venous blood were collected from all the cases. Serum NO2-/NO3-, the end products of NO, were measured with the Griess reaction after reduction with nitrate reductase.

RESULTS

Mean NO2-/NO3- values in maternal serum were (74.22 +/- 28.99) mumol/L in IUGR group and (56.71 +/- 22.81) mumol/L in the control. Umbilical serum NO2-/NO3- values were (39.73 +/- 24.65) mumol/L in IUGR group and (21.49 +/- 6.69) mumol/L in the control. Compared with the control, maternal as well as umbilical serum NO2-/NO3- in IUGR group were significantly higher (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively). The total nitrite levels in fetal circulation were lower than in maternal circulation in both groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Changes of NO in the pregnant women and their fetuses were due to the result of secondary complementary response in the patients with IUGR. The metabolic disorder of nitric oxide in maternal and fetal circulation may play an important role in pathogenesis of IUGR.