Increased placental macrophages and a pro-inflammatory profile in placentas and maternal serum in infants with a decreased growth rate in the third trimester of pregnancy.

The evidence of an altered inflammatory profile in infants with a decreasing growth rate, but not in those that were born SGA, provides further evidence that inflammation plays a role in true FGR. It remains unclear whether the increased placental macrophages occur as a direct result, or as a consequence of the pro-inflammatory environment observed in fetal growth restriction.