A comparative study of serum soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in preeclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
Maternal serum soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) were evaluated in preeclampsia to investigate whether these molecules could be helpful with regard to this pregnancy complication.


METHODS
The study population was composed of 30 preeclamptic patients with a mean gestational age of 35.5 +/- 4.6 weeks and 20 age-matched and gestational age-matched normotensive uncomplicated pregnancies (controls). Blood samples from 7 of the 30 preeclamptic patients and 15 of the 20 controls in the second trimester were also analyzed. Data were analyzed by parametric methods.


RESULTS
Significantly higher maternal serum sVCAM-1 levels were found in both groups of preeclamptic patients with and without fetal growth restriction (981 +/- 145 ng/ml; n = 13; p < 0.0005 and 846 +/- 84 ng/ml; p < 0.02, respectively) compared with controls (668 +/- 186 ng/ml). In contrast, no significant difference was found in maternal serum sICAM-1 levels between preeclamptic and normotensive pregnancies, or in both adhesion molecules (1) in the controls between second and third trimester samples and (2) in the second trimester between pregnant women who developed preeclampsia later and gestational age-matched controls.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings show a selective significant elevation of maternal serum sVCAM-1 in preeclampsia, with the highest values in cases complicated with fetal growth restriction, perhaps reflecting its angiogenic function. Hence, sVCAM-1 could be helpful in the diagnosis of this fetal complication in preeclampsia.
Phocas
I
I
Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens, Aretaieion University Hospital, Greece. ormonol@aretaieio.uoa.gr
Rizos
D
D
Papoulias
J
J
Xyni
K
K
Sarandakou
A
A
Salamalekis
E
E
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D016014:Linear Models; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*
D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1