Correlation between maternal and fetal biomarker levels

Background: There is increasing interest in cardiac biomarkers in newborns. One issue to be addressed is the feto-maternal interaction during pregnancy and delivery. The aim was to establish normal values and data on the origin of biomarkers in the feto-maternal unit.

Methods: In 68 cases maternal and venous umbilical cord blood samples (additionally arterial umbilical cord blood in 11 cases) were obtained. 75% of the cases were primary cesarian sections without labour. Significance was based on T-test for paired samples (p<0.05).

Results (mean ± SEM): Levels of Copeptin, ANP, NT-pro-BNP were significantly higher in venous umbilical cord blood than in maternal blood. Levels of Copeptin and BNP were significantly higher in arterial than in venous umbilical cord blood. Fetal Copeptin levels were significantly influenced by labour. Significant correlation was demonstrated for ADM and BNP comparing fetal and maternal samples.

Biomarker	Maternal	Umbilical vein	Umbilical artery
Copeptin [pmol/l]	10.26±1.66	100.49 ±22.31	169.54 ±57.56
ADM [nmol/l]	1.23 ±0.08	1.02 ±0.03	0.94 ±0.04
ANP [pmol/l]	56.35 ±3.77	218.26 ±12.72	197.59 ±17.81
BNP [pg/ml]	25.86 ±6.91	34.91 ±3.80	39.76 ±8.08
NT-pro-BNP [pg/ml]	85.14 ±16.51	1317.64 ±110.97	1113.29 ±132.56
TNI [pg/ml]	4.86 ±2.31	13.38 ±5.03	5.85 ±1.12

Conclusions: These findings may lead to tests identifying fetal heart failure based on antenatal maternal biomarker levels.