Changes in the Level of Serum High-Temperature Requirement A1 (HtrA1) during Pregnancy and Its Relationship to Preeclampsia

Abstract

Objective. To investigate the expression and changes of high-temperature requirement A1 (HtrA1) during pregnancy and the use of this value in predicting preeclampsia. Method. Serum samples were collected from pregnant mothers at different gestational weeks, and double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to describe the changes in HtrA1 in serum during pregnancy. Results. (i) In Xi’an area of China, the incidence of preeclampsia was 4.95%, including 0.85% of early-onset type and 4.10% of late-onset type; (ii) the HtrA1 showed a lognormal distribution during pregnancy in the maternal serum, with the peak at 17–20 weeks of pregnancy; (iii) the HtrA1 levels in preeclampsia mothers peaked at 13–16 weeks of pregnancy, followed by acute decline until 21–24 weeks, then remained stable; (iv) the HtrA1 levels in preeclampsia mothers were higher than the control group in 13–16 weeks and lower than that in 21–24 weeks (p < 0.05); (v) the criteria using lgHtrA1 level at 1.684 during 13–16 weeks of pregnancy could predict hypertension disorders complicating pregnancy (HDCP) with sensitivity of 62.1% and specificity of 53.7%. This could be improved to 85 and 83%, respectively, when combined with body mass index as well as education background of the mother. Conclusion. (i) HtrA1 showed lognormal distribution during pregnancy for all populations; (ii) HtrA1 level peaked at 17–20 weeks in normal group of pregnant mothers, and the increase of HtrA1 level in 13–16 weeks could predict the risk of preeclampsia; (iii) the risk calculation formula for preeclampsia: p (%) = eY/(1 + eY) (Y = −15.87 + 3.706 × lgHtrA1 + 0.134 × mean arterial pressure (MAP) − 1.4 × education level code); e = 2.718.

• HtrA1
• Preeclampsia
• Pregnancy

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This work was supported by the National Science Foundation of China (No.30872773) and the key Sci-Tech project of Shaanxi Province (No. 2009K16-02).

Declaration of Interest

The authors declare not to have any conflict of interest.