Antenatal Allopurinol in Intrauterine Growth Restriction

Fetal Growth Retardation

Allopurinol, Fetal Growth Retardation, Oxidative Stress, Placental Insufficiency

Growth retardation in utero may be caused by uteroplacental vascular insufficiency. When Doppler ultrasound studies of the umbilical artery are abnormal pathological intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) can be diagnosed. IUGR fetuses have a higher mortality and morbidity, both perinatally and on the longer term. This is probably due to chronic malnourishment and hypoxia due to placental insufficiency. This placental dysfunction causes generation of harmful free oxygen radicals in the fetus. The IUGR fetus has a diminished antioxidative capacity which means these free radicals cannot be buffered sufficiently. This leads to fetal oxidative stress. Previous studies have shown that allopurinol can inhibit the cascades that lead to generation of free radicals. High dosed allopurinol also scavenges radicals and binds free iron without adverse effects on the fetus or mother. As IUGR is associated with placental insufficiency and excessive production of free radicals we hypothesize that antenatal allopurinol administration could lead to a decrease in oxidative stress in the mother and fetus and subsequent improvement of the maternal and/or neonatal outcome.

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