Abstract
The objective of this study was to confirm that endothelial dysfunction is present in preeclampsia and absent in transient hypertension of pregnancy, and to determine whether the cardiovascular risk factor homocysteine is associated with the degree of endothelial dysfunction. We measured cellular fibronectin (as a marker of endothelial injury) and total plasma homocysteine in samples collected at the time of admittance to labor and delivery in 17 women with preeclampsia (increased blood pressure, proteinuria, and hyperuricemia), 16 women with transient hypertension of pregnancy (only increased blood pressure), and 34 normal pregnant women. Each subject with preeclampsia was matched by prepregnancy body mass index, race, and gestational age at delivery to one subject with transient hypertension of pregnancy and two controls. Cellular fibronectin was found to be significantly increased in women with preeclampsia compared to subjects with transient hypertension of pregnancy or normal pregnant women (22.9 +/- 14.1 microg/mL versus 10.9 +/- 5.4 and 10.1 +/- 6.2 microg/mL, respectively, p<0.0001). Similarly, total plasma homocysteine was also significantly increased in the women with preeclampsia compared to subjects with transient hypertension of pregnancy or normal pregnant women (8.3 +/- 2.5 microM versus <5.5 +/- 2.2 and 5.4 +/- 3.4 microM respectively, p<0.01). However, contrary to our hypothesis, there was no apparent association between cellular fibronectin and homocysteine. The increased concentrations of homocysteine observed in preeclampsia are not a general feature of all hypertensive complications of pregnancy. Furthermore, endothelial dysfunction is present in preeclampsia and is not evident in transient hypertension of pregnancy. However, the apparent endothelial dysfunction in preeclampsia is not explained by the increase in homocysteine concentrations observed.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
