Potential adverse effects of antenatal melatonin as a treatment for intrauterine growth restriction: findings in pregnant sheep

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Intrauterine growth restriction is a condition in which the fetus has a birthweight and/or length <10th percentile for the gestational age. Intrauterine growth restriction can be associated with various causes, among which is low uteroplacental perfusion and chronic hypoxia during gestation. Often, intrauterine growth-restricted fetuses have increased oxidative stress; therefore, agents that decrease oxidative stress and increase utero, placental, and umbilical perfusion have been proposed as a beneficial therapeutic strategy. In this scenario, melatonin acts as an umbilical vasodilator and a potent antioxidant that has not been evaluated in pregnancies under chronic hypoxia that induce fetal growth restriction. However, this neurohormone has been proposed as a pharmacologic therapy for complicated pregnancies.