title: Clinical evaluation of plasma fibronectin level as a biomarker of preeclampsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical feasibility of plasma fibronectin as a biomarker and predictor for preeclampsia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 13 patients who had severe preeclampsia in prior pregnancies were enrolled for longitudinal study, and the profiles of plasma fibronectin were observed throughout their pregnancies. In cross-sectional study, the correlation between plasma fibronectin within a week before delivery and the grade of preeclampsia were analyzed in 96 pregnant women including tangible preeclampsia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the longitudinal study, 5 patients developed severe preeclampsia, in whom plasma fibronectin was elevated over the normal range 2-9 weeks before the onset of preeclampsia. In the cross-sectional study, plasma fibronectin levels elevated significantly corresponding with the severity of preeclampsia, and the abnormal elevation of fibronectin reflected the existence of preeclampsia with satisfactory sensitivity and specificity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased plasma fibronectin levels may be a highly sensitive and specific diagnostic indicator for preeclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yamanashi Medical University, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yasumizu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kato
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005353:Fibronectins