Association between maternal serum soluble endoglin levels and preeclampsia or eclampsia in the third trimester

Abstract

Objective To explore the ralationship between maternal serum level of soluble endoglin （sEng） in advanced gestations and hypertensive disorders comlicating pregnancy（HDCP）. Methods The serum levels of sEng were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Blood samples were obtained from 62 pregnant women with HDCP at 35-39 weeks＇ gestation （ 20 gestational hypertension, 20 mild preeclampsia, 19 severe preeclampsia and 3 eclampsia）, and 20 normal pregnant women at 37-39 weeksr gestation （control）. Results The serum sEng levels in normal, gestational hypertension, mild preeclampsia, severe preeclampsia and eclampsia group were （6.24±0.26） ng/ml; （6.56±0.29） ng/ml; （7.47±0.31） ng/ml; （8.71 ± 0.37） ng/ml and （9.69±0.28） ng/ml, respectively. The serum sEng levels in the preeclampsia and eclampsia group were significantly higher than those in the gestational hypertension and normal group （P〈0.01）, that of the severe preeclampsia group was significantly higher than the mild preeclampsia （P〈0.01）, and that of the eclampsia group was significantly higher than the preeclampsia group （P〈0.01）. However, no difference was found between the gestational hypertension and normal group （P〉0.05）. Conclusions The increased serum level of sEng may participate in the genesis of HDGP. Key words: Receptors, cell surfaces Antigens, CD; Hypertension, preganey-induced; Pregnancy trimester, third