Plasma and placental calcitonin gene-related peptide in pregnancies complicated by severe preeclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to determine the concentration of calcitonin gene-related peptide, a potent vasodilator, in maternal plasma, fetal plasma, and placental tissue from pregnancies complicated by severe preeclampsia.


METHODS
The following groups were studied: severe preeclampsia (group 1, n = 21), normal pregnancies matched for mode of delivery (group 2, n = 21), and nonpregnant women (group 3, n = 17). Maternal venous blood samples were drawn before labor, and fetal venous samples were drawn from the chorionic plate immediately after delivery. Calcitonin gene-related peptide was also quantified in placental tissue samples from 15 patients in group 1 and 15 patients in group 2. Calcitonin gene-related peptide was measured with a sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay.


RESULTS
No differences were found between maternal plasma calcitonin gene-related peptide concentrations in groups 1 and 2 (29.8 +/- 4.2 and 30.4 +/- 4.3 pmol/L, respectively). Both had levels similar to those in group 3 (28.5 +/- 5.4 pmol/L). Maternal plasma concentrations in the preeclamptic group were unchanged 3 days post partum (29.1 +/- 3.6 pmol/L). Fetal plasma calcitonin gene-related peptide concentrations were similar in groups 1 and 2 (30.2 +/- 3.9 and 32.2 +/- 8.8 pmol/L, respectively). A significant correlation was found between maternal and fetal calcitonin gene-related peptide concentrations (r = 0.43, p < 0.01). Like plasma levels, calcitonin gene-related peptide levels in the supernatants of placental extracts were not different in preeclamptic and normal pregnancies (108.0 +/- 70.4 and 100.9 +/- 56.1 fmol/gm, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
On the basis of plasma and placental concentrations, calcitonin gene-related peptide does not seem to play an important role in the pathophysiologic mechanisms of preeclampsia.
Schiff
E
E
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tennessee, Memphis 38103, USA.
Friedman
S A
SA
Sibai
B M
BM
Kao
L
L
Schifter
S
S
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood*; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010920:Placenta / Q000737:chemistry*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014665:Vasodilator Agents
D015415:Biomarkers; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide