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Maternal and Fetal Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) and Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF) and Gestational Age

Conditions
Abortion, Legal
Registration Number
NCT03231904
Lead Sponsor
Rambam Health Care Campus
Brief Summary

In 2010, Simamura et al have demonstrated in a rat model that one of the pro-inflammatory cytokine belonging to the Interleukin-6 family cytokines, LIF, is required for the proliferation of neuronal progenitor cells in the cerebrum. They have shown that maternal LIF induces ACTH from the placenta, which in turn stimulates fetal nucleated red blood cells to secrete LIF, leading finally to neurogenesis in the fetus As demonstrated recently in a mouse model, maternal inflammation suppress the physiological maternal- fetal LIF-ACTH-LIF signal, result in reduction of ACTH production from placenta, which lead to a reduction in LIF concentration in fetal Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and impaired proliferation of the neural stem/ progenitor cells and poor development of the fetal brain.

In the current study, the investigators will take fetal and maternal blood samples of fetuses undergoing termination of pregnancy (TOP) . Maternal samples will be acquired with the routine blood samples before performance of TOP , fetal blood samples will be acquired from the umbilical vessel after the termination has been completed , the blood samples will be analyzed for levels of LIF and ACTH and checked according to termination pregnancy week, Patients electronic files will be checked for relevant demographic and obstetric information.

Detailed Description

Study protocol:

In the current study, the investigators will take fetal and maternal blood samples of fetuses undergoing termination of pregnancy (TOP) . Maternal samples will be acquired with the routine blood samples before performance of TOP , fetal blood samples will be acquired from the umbilical vessel after the termination has been completed , the blood samples will be analyzed for levels of LIF and ACTH and checked according to termination pregnancy week, Patients electronic files will be checked for relevant demographic and obstetric information.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
50
Inclusion Criteria
  • Pregnant women undergoing termination of pregnancy in various gestational weeks.
  • Pregnant women undergoing spontaneous abortion.
Exclusion Criteria

•Intrauterine fetal death.

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Fetal ACTH levels during pregnancyup to 6 months

Differences in levels of ACTH according to gestational age

Maternal ACTH levels during pregnancyup to 6 months

Differences in levels of ACTH according to gestational age

Maternal LIF levels during pregnancyup to 6 months

Differences in levels of LIF according to gestational age

Fetal LIF levels during pregnancyup to 6 months

Differences in levels of LIF according to gestational age

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
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