Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and leukocyte activation in pre-eclampsia and eclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the levels of VCAM-1 in pre-eclampsia/eclampsia as a possible marker of leukocyte activation and endothelial damage.


METHODS
We performed a case-control study on 25 healthy pregnant women and 35 patients diagnosed as pre-eclampsia or eclampsia which were randomly selected. Peripheral venous blood samples were obtained and serum levels of VCAM-1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA).


RESULTS
In pre-eclampsia/eclampsia, VCAM-1 levels were higher than in normal pregnancy. Serum concentrations of VCAM-1 were significantly higher in severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia compared to mild pre-eclampsia or healthy controls. ROC analysis detected that VCAM-1 > or = 450 ng/ml had a sensitivity of 0.79 and a specificity of 0.90 in detecting severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study to correlate VCAM-1 levels with severity of disease in pre-eclampsia. Our findings indicate that increasing levels of soluble VCAM-1 are present in the circulation of patients with severe pre-eclampsia/eclampsia compared to mild pre-eclampsia or healthy pregnant women. Elevated VCAM-1 levels may represent a possible mechanism by which endothelial cells attract leukocytes and cause endothelial cell damage.
Budak
E
E
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, University of Istanbul, Turkey.
Madazli
R
R
Aksu
M F
MF
Benian
A
A
Gezer
A
A
Palit
N
N
Yildizfer
F
F
D001794:Blood Pressure; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004461:Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*
D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1