Inhibin A serum levels in proteinuric and nonproteinuric pregnancy-induced hypertension: evidence for placental involvement in gestational hypertension?
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the serum levels of inhibin A in pregnant women with different types of hypertension.


METHODS
A case-control study, including 60 cases (20 women with preeclampsia, 20 with mild gestational hypertension, and 20 with chronic hypertension), and 60 gestational-age- and parity-matched controls. Inhibin A was measured in duplicate by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in serum samples frozen at -80 degrees C.


RESULTS
As compared to controls, inhibin A levels were significantly elevated in women with preeclampsia ¿2.32 standard deviation (SD) 1.4¿ versus 0.50 (0.29) ng/mL, p < 0.001) and gestational hypertension [1.09 (0.73) versus 0.55 (0.29) ng/mL, p < 0.05], but not in the group of chronic hypertension [0.88 (0.69) versus 0.54 (0.39) ng/mL, p = 0.08]. Overlap in inhibin A values between cases and controls was observed in 20% (4/20) of women with preeclampsia and 55% (11/20) with gestational hypertension.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased serum inhibin A may indicate that a proportion of mild nonproteinuric hypertension cases are associated with placental involvement.
Gratacós
E
E
Departament d'Obstetrícia i Ginecologia, IDIBAPS, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain. egratacos@meditex.es
Casals
E
E
Gómez
O
O
Aibar
C
C
Cararach
V
V
Alonso
P L
PL
Fortuny
A
A
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015984:Causality; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007265:Inhibins; D010298:Parity; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D010920:Placenta / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D010455:Peptides; C094377:inhibin-alpha subunit; D007265:Inhibins