Selective deficit of angiogenic growth factors characterises pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
To compare serum levels of angiogenic growth factors vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), placental growth factor (PlGF) and angiogenin in pre-eclamptic women and matched controls.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of -70 degrees C stored serum of women who developed pre-eclampsia and matched controls.


METHODS
Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, St Elisabeth Hospital, Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles.


METHODS
Thirty women with pre-eclampsia and 30 normotensive controls matched for age and gestation.


RESULTS
VEGF and PIGF serum levels were significantly lower in pre-eclamptic pregnancies, compared with controls (VEGF 0.31 +/- 1.20 vs 18.30 +/- 24.97 pg/mL, P = 0.0004; PlGF 54.19 +/- 32.05 vs 497.95 +/- 340.51 pg/mL, P < 0.0001). Matched couple analysis showed VEGF serum concentrations to be lower in the majority of pre-eclamptic women and PlGF concentrations to be lower in all pre-eclamptic women. Angiogenin serum levels showed no statistical significant difference between pre-eclamptic pregnancies and controls (523.68 +/- 367.55 vs 670.41 +/- 251.54 ng/mL, P = 0.058), with matched couple analysis showing no clear pattern.


CONCLUSIONS
Decreased serum levels of VEGF and PIGF characterise, and therefore seem to be of importance during (the development of), pre-eclampsia. This selective deficit of angiogenic growth factors might in part explain the shallow placentation found in this pregnancy complication.
Reuvekamp
A
A
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St Elisabeth Hospital, Red Cross Blood Bank, Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles.
Velsing-Aarts
F V
FV
Poulina
I E
IE
Capello
J J
JJ
Duits
A J
AJ
D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000097:blood*; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood*; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; C000608036:PGF protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor