(773) Clinical utility of various growth factors in preeclampsia

This study aimed to compare the levels of various growth factors in maternal serum and umbilical vein serum between individuals with preeclampsia (PE) and those with normotensive pregnancies.

Study Design:

One hundred eight pregnant women were enrolled in this prospective study. 67 serum samples of preeclampsia and 41 normotensive mothers were collected. Umbilical vein serum samples of 27 PE and 38 normotensive pregnancies were collected. Serum levels of BDNF, EGF, FGF-2, HGF, LIF, NGF-beta, PDGF-BB, PlGF-1, SCF, and VEGF-A and D were measured.

Results:

EGF, HGF, LIF, PDGF-BB and SCF levels were significantly higher in PE compared to normotensive group. After adjustment for gestational age, EGF, HGF, LIF and SCF remained significantly high in PE. There were no differences in growth factors in umbilical vein serum between two groups. EGF, NGF-beta and SCF were associated with the elevation of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, while EGF was negatively correlated with birthweight and positively with protein/creatinine ratio. SCF showed a positive correlation with ALT and creatinine and a decreasing trend as gestational age advances.

Conclusion:

Circulating growth factors in PE, especially elevated levels of EGF, HGF, LIF, and SCF, may be responsible for the development or consequences associated with the pathogenesis of PE, with evidence demonstrating an association with severe features. These hormones in placenta appear to have different patterns compared to those in the maternal blood, suggesting that the placenta may regulate these factors to prevent them from reaching the fetus. Further experiments are need to explain this phenomenon.