Low maternal concentrations of soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 in preeclampsia and small for gestational age

Tinnakorn Chaiworapongsa Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA

Roberto Romero Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA; Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USACorrespondence[email protected]

, MD,

Francesca Gotsch Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA

Jimmy Espinoza Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA

Jyh Kae Nien Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA

Luis Goncalves Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA

Samuel Edwin Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA

Yeon Mee Kim Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA; Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA

Offer Erez Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA

Juan Pedro Kusanovic Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA

Beth L. Pineles Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA

Zoltan Papp First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary

Sonia Hassan Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA

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Abstract

Objectives. Preeclampsia is considered an anti-angiogenic state. A role for the anti-angiogenic factors soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (sVEGFR-1) and soluble endoglin in preeclampsia has been proposed. Soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (sVEGFR-2) has been detected in human plasma, and the recombinant form of this protein has anti-angiogenic activity. There is a paucity of information about maternal plasma sVEGFR-2 concentrations in patients with preeclampsia and those without preeclampsia with small for gestational age (SGA) fetuses. This study was conducted to determine whether: (1) plasma sVEGFR-2 concentration changes throughout pregnancy; and (2) preeclampsia and SGA are associated with abnormalities in the maternal plasma concentration of sVEGFR-2.

Study design. This cross-sectional study included non-pregnant women (n = 40), women with normal pregnancies (n = 135), women with an SGA fetus (n = 53), and women with preeclampsia (n = 112). SGA was defined as an ultrasound-estimated fetal weight below the 10^th percentile for gestational age that was confirmed by neonatal birth weight. Plasma concentrations of sVEGFR-2 were determined by ELISA.

Results. (1) There was no significant difference in the mean plasma concentration of sVEGFR-2 between non-pregnant women and those with normal pregnancies (p = 0.8); (2) patients with preeclampsia and those without preeclampsia with SGA fetuses had a lower mean plasma concentration of sVEGFR-2 than that of women with normal pregnancies (p < 0.001 for both); and (3) there was no significant difference in the mean plasma concentration of sVEGFR-2 between patients with preeclampsia and those without preeclampsia with SGA (p = 0.9).

Conclusions. Preeclampsia and SGA are associated with low plasma concentrations of sVEGFR-2. One interpretation of the findings is that plasma sVEGFR-2 concentration could reflect endothelial cell function.

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Low maternal concentrations of soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 in preeclampsia and small for gestational age

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Low maternal concentrations of soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 in preeclampsia and small for gestational age

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