This prospective observational case-control study aims to compare placental expression levels of progesterone membrane receptors, including PGRMC1, PGRMC2, and PAQR family receptors, among pregnancies affected by impaired fetal growth and appropriately grown control pregnancies. Pregnancies with suspected impaired fetal growth were phenotypically classified before biomarker analyses according to the contemporary Delphi consensus and ISUOG diagnostic criteria into fetal growth restriction (FGR) and small for gestational age (SGA). Placental tissue samples obtained at delivery were analyzed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The final study cohort comprised 110 singleton pregnancies, including 48 FGR, 29 SGA, and 33 appropriately grown controls. The study also evaluated the association between progesterone membrane receptor expression and adverse perinatal outcomes.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 45 Years
Sex
FEMALE
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
FGR Group
* Pregnant women aged ≥18 years.
* Singleton pregnancy.
* Gestational age ≥24 weeks.
* Diagnosis of fetal growth restriction according to the Delphi consensus criteria (or your institutional protocol if that is what was used in the study).
* Planned delivery at the participating hospital.
* Written informed consent. SGA Group
* Pregnant women aged ≥18 years.
* Singleton pregnancy.
* Estimated fetal weight or birth weight \<10th percentile without evidence of fetal growth restriction.
* Planned delivery at the participating hospital.
* Written informed consent Control Group
* Pregnant women aged ≥18 years.
* Singleton pregnancy.
* Appropriate-for-gestational-age fetus (birth weight between the 10th and 90th percentile).
* No maternal or fetal complications affecting fetal growth.
* Planned delivery at the participating hospital.
* Written informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Multiple pregnancy.
* Major fetal structural or chromosomal anomalies.
* Congenital fetal infection.
* Known genetic syndromes.
* Intrauterine fetal demise.
* Maternal malignancy.
* Chronic inflammatory or autoimmune disease.
* Refusal or inability to provide informed consent.
* Inadequate maternal blood or placental sample for analysis.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Maternal serum and placental concentrations of membrane progesterone receptors (mPRα/PAQR7, PGRMC1, and PGRMC2)