Main findings
In this study we explored the progression of HLA-G during pregnancy and
assessed the differences between sHLA-G trajectories in 23 mothers
delivering SGA and 17 mothers delivering AGA. sHLA-G levels were
measured at < 14 weeks, 18-20 weeks, 26-28 weeks of
gestation, at delivery and postpartum i.e., 42 days to 6 months after
delivery in our study population. The loess curves generated on the data
reveal highest levels of sHLA-G at the start of gestation that start
decreasing as pregnancy progresses and finally diminish at parturition
in both cases and control pregnancies. No significant difference was
observed in the sHLA-G trajectories during pregnancy in mothers
delivering SGA as compared to those delivering AGA. A trend towards
higher sHLA-G levels at the first trimester of pregnancy
(<14weeks of gestation) was observed in mothers delivering SGA
neonates as compared to those delivering AGA neonates.