Expression of the complement system's activation factors in plasma of patients with early/late‐onset severe pre‐eclampsia

Abstract

To investigate the expression of complement activation factors in plasma of patients with early/late-onset severe pre-eclampsia. A case-control study was performed. The study group consisted of 30 cases of early-onset severe pre-eclampsia (EOSPE) and 30 cases of late-onset severe pre-eclampsia (LOSPE). Thirty cases were selected as the early-onset control group (E-control) and 30 as the late-onset control group (L-control). ELISA was used to test C1q, C4d, MBL, Bb, C3a, C5a, and MAC in the maternal peripheral circulation. The complement activation factors Bb, C3a, C5a, and MAC were increased significantly in EOSPE (all P<.01) and LOSPE (P value: .027, <.001, .001, and <.001, respectively) compared with E/L-control. C1q and C4d were increased significantly in LOSPE (P value: .003 and .014, respectively) compared with L-control. Abnormal activation of the complement system exists in the maternal circulation of patients with early- and late-onset severe pre-eclampsia. In patients complicated with LOSPE, the complement system was activated through both the classical and alternative pathways, while in EOSPE, the complement system was activated mainly through the alternative pathway.