Increased serum levels of high mobility group protein B1 and calprotectin in pre-eclampsia.

Abstract

To determine whether women with pre-eclampsia have serum levels of biomarkers indicative of an elevated systemic inflammatory response. The present cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women either with pre-eclampsia or without pre-eclampsia who were recruited at a single Chinese hospital between August 1, 2016, and April 30, 2017. Eligible women had no history of acute or chronic inflammation. Serum concentrations of high mobility group protein B1 (HMG-1), calprotectin, and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) were measured and compared. There were 55 patients included (25 with pre-eclampsia and 30 without). The mean serum concentration of calprotectin was 2656.76±1724.56μg/L in the pre-eclampsia group versus 1877.33±905.69μg/L in the control group (P=0.036). Among patients with pre-eclampsia, elevated calprotectin levels were positively associated with the duration of hypertension in pregnancy (P=0.031) and were negatively associated with pregnancy duration at delivery (P=0.035). The mean serum concentration of HMG-1 was 72.48±27.57μg/L in the pre-eclampsia group versus 57.57±20.07μg/L in the control group (P=0.017). The mean serum concentration of TLR4 was 22.83±8.46μg/L in the pre-eclampsia group versus 18.83±6.79μg/L in the control group (P=0.057). Elevated levels of HMG-1 and calprotectin could reflect an excessive systemic inflammatory response in pre-eclampsia.