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Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine if heat shock protein 70 (Hsp 70), a marker of cellular stress, is elevated in pregnancies complicated by severe preeclampsia. Methods: Maternal blood was collected from women with severe preeclampsia (n=47) matched for delivery gestational age to normotensive pregnant controls (n=51). Hsp 70 concentrations were measured by standard ELISA techniques. Data were analyzed with the Student's t-test and chi-square test. Main outcome measures: The primary outcome measured was Hsp 70 concentrations. Our hypothesis prior to data collection was that HSP 70 would be increased in women with severe preeclampsia. Results: Compared with normotensive women, those with severe preeclampsia had similar maternal age, parity, delivery gestational age, maternal weight, and ethnicity. There was no difference in mean concentrations of Hsp 70 between women with severe preeclampsia and controls (35.4±96.7 vs. 30.1±11.5, p=0.80). Similar numbers of women with severe preeclampsia (n=28) and controls (n=30) had Hsp 70 concentrations below the 0.02 ng/dL level of detection (chi-square value=0.024, p=0.88). Conclusion: Hsp 70 concentrations are not elevated in women with severe preeclampsia.
