Angiogenic factors and uterine Doppler velocimetry in early‐ and late‐onset preeclampsia

Abstract

To assess correlations between maternal serum levels of pro- and anti-angiogenic factors with uterine perfusion in women with early- compared with late-onset preeclampsia, and in healthy pregnant women. Case-control study. Antenatal care clinic located within a hospital (São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil). We enrolled 54 preeclamptic and 54 healthy control women who were coming for routine ultrasound at 28-36 weeks' gestation. All participants had uterine artery and umbilical Doppler studies and a blood sample to assess maternal serum levels of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1, soluble endoglin, adiponectin and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. All angiogenic factors were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Levels of pro- and anti-angiogenic factors in maternal serum, and uterine artery Doppler findings. Concentrations of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 and soluble endoglin were significantly higher in preeclamptic than control women (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001, respectively), especially in those with early-onset (<34 weeks) preeclampsia. These two anti-angiogenic mediators were significantly correlated with increased uterine artery Doppler in the preeclamptic women. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 levels were significantly higher in preeclampsia (p = 0.03) but unrelated to uterine artery resistance. Adiponectin levels were similar in cases and controls, independent of body mass index and unrelated to uterine artery resistance. Preeclamptic patients have increased soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 and soluble endoglin serum levels and this increase is directly correlated with uterine artery resistance, especially in those with early-onset preeclampsia.