First‐trimester increase in oxidative stress and risk of small‐for‐gestational‐age fetus

Objective Investigation of increased oxidative stress in early pregnancy and association with an increased risk of small‐for‐gestational‐age (SGA) fetus. Design Longitudinal case–control study. Setting University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK. Population Low‐risk pregnant women with no current or pre‐existing medical illness were recruited at a large teaching hospital from 2004 to 2006. Methods Recruitment performed at the time of the dating ultrasound scan (12 ± 2 weeks of gestation). Spot urine samples collected at 12 ± 2 and 28 ± 2 weeks of gestation were analysed for 8‐oxo‐7,8‐dihydro‐2′‐deoxyguanosine (8‐oxodG) by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry). SGA was defined as birthweight