248: Serum levels, placental expression and localization of angiotensin converting enzyme in pregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancy and in women with preeclampsia and IUGR fetuses

Abstract

47 THE 634GC POLYMORPHISM IN THE REGULATORY 5 = UNTRANSLATED REGION (5 = UTR) OF THE VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR (VEGF) GENE IS ASSOC WITH UNEXPLAINED RECURRENT PREGNANCY LOSS (RPL). ALEXANDRA ELLER, D. WARE BRANCH, LESA NELSON, ROBERT SILVER, University of Utah, Salt Lake Ci Utah, Taueret Laboratories, Salt Lake City, Utah OBJECTIVE: Decreased expression of VEGF has been associated with R Thus, we sought to determine if polymorphisms associated with altered expre of VEGF are more common among women with unexplained RPL compar multiparous controls. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study comparing the allele frequencies of f polymorphisms in VEGF among 47 women with unexplained RPL and 81 matched, multiparous controls using Fisher =s exact test. Unexplained RPL w defined as 3 unexplained pregnancy losses prior to 20 weeks gestation an more than one live birth; controls were women with 2 live births and no pre nancy losses. RESULTS: Within the regulatory 5 = UTR of VEGF, the allele frequency of minor C allele at position 634 is higher among women with unexplained R compared to multiparous controls (0.43 vs. 0.30, p 0.04). No difference was foun in the allele frequencies of three other VEGF polymorphisms in women wit explained RPL compared to multiparous controls: 1154 G/A (0.30 vs. 0.2 p 0.46), 2578 C/A (0.48 vs. 0.37, p 0.09), and 936 C/T (0.14 vs. 0.1 p 1.00). CONCLUSION: Altered gene expression of VEGF may play a role in the et of early pregnancy failure in a subset of women with unexplained RPL.