Maternal serum placental growth factor combined with second trimester aneuploidy screening to predict small-for-gestation neonates without preeclampsia

To investigate the role of maternal serum placenta growth factor (PlGF) and quadruple test parameters in predicting the risk of small for gestational age (SGA) infants of mothers without preeclampsia. We prospectively enrolled 300 pregnant patients who underwent blood sampling at 15–18 weeks gestation and followed them until delivery. Cases with SGA neonate delivery (n = 100) were compared with matched AGA neonate controls (n = 200). The plasma PlGF and quadruple markers were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results were analyzed with Mann–Whitney U tests, and regression analysis was used to develop a model for the prediction of SGA. Women who delivered SGA neonates had decreased levels of PlGF (median 0.71 MoM versus 0.7 MoM; p