The correlation between placental growth factor and small for gestational age infants: a matched case-control study.

Background: At present, research has not found easily accessible, accurate, and safe clinical biomarkers that can effectively predict the occurrence of infants born small for gestational age (SGA). The aim of this study is to explore the predictive role of maternal placental growth factor (PIGF) levels on the occurrence of SGA infants.

Method: We conducted a matched case-control study on 226 SGA infants and 226 non-SGA infants born in the Department of Obstetrics, Peking University People's Hospital, from January 2021 to December 2022, with regular monitoring of maternal serum PIGF levels in second trimester during pregnancy. Apply multiple logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to determine whether PIGF is an independent influencing factor for the occurrence of SGA in infants, and evaluate whether PIGF can predict the occurrence of SGA in infants.

Results: Multiple logistic regression analysis found that multipara (HR = 0.484, 95% CI = 0.250-0.937, p = 0.031), maternal pre-pregnancy underweight (HR = 4.710, 95% CI = 1.881-11.792, p = 0.001), pre-eclampsia(HR = 2.291, 95% CI = 1.068-4.913, p = 0.033), low levels of PIGF (HR = 26.417, 95% CI = 12.850-54.311, p < 0.001) and oligohydramnios (HR = 4.764, 95% CI = 1.845-12.301, p = 0.001) were independent factors affecting the occurrence of infants born SGA. In addition, ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) predicted by PIGF level and four other influencing factors for the occurrence of SGA infants were 0.834 and 0.723, respectively. In addition, the combination of PIGF and four other independent influencing factors improved the predictive value (AUC 0.902) for the birth of SGA infants, with enhanced sensitivity and specificity.

Conclusion: Low levels of PIGF in second trimester during pregnancy are an independent risk factor for SGA infants. Compared with other indicators, PIGF levels PIGF in second trimester are a better predictor of SGA in infants.