The Predictive Value of First Trimester Fibrinogen-Albumin Ratio for Late Onset Fetal Growth Restriction

Authors : Osman Onur Özkavak, Dilek Sahin

Pages : 316-323

Doi:10.20515/otd.1630855

View : 7 | Download : 9

Publication Date : 2025-02-27

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a common cause of adverse pregnancy outcomes, with two main categories: early and late onset.The standard cut-off gestational age is 32 weeks.There\\\'s no accepted screening method for early pregnancy prediction. Maternal inflammation is a key factor in FGR development. In the context of inflammation, fibrinogen levels increase and albumin levels decrease, resulting in an elevated fibrinogen albumin ratio (FAR). FAR has been shown to be a valuable prognostic marker for various inflammation-related diseases. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the value of first trimester FAR in predicting the development of late-onset FGR. The study found that first trimester CRP, fibrinogen, and FAR values were statistically significantly higher in the FGR group (p<0.001 for all). ROC curve analyses demonstrated that both CRP and FAR exhibited significant predictive capabilities for the development of late FGR. However, the performance of the conventional inflammatory marker “CRP” (sensitivity:61%, specificity:60%) in predicting FGR was found to be inferior to that of FAR (sensitivity:73%, specificity:71%). Also, the FGR group demonstrated significantly elevated rates of adverse neonatal outcomes and neonatal intensive care unit hospitalization. The prediction of FGR risk in early pregnancy is crucial for the implementation of appropriate pregnancy follow-ups and the administration of necessary preventive strategies.This study underscores the potential value of FAR as a prognostic instrument to estimate the probability of late FGR.
Keywords : Fetal büyüme kısıtlılığı, inflamasyon, fibrinojen-albümin oranı.