Significantly higher number of fetal cells in the maternal circulation of women with pre-eclampsia.
Although the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia is unknown, several studies have indicated that abnormal placentation early in pregnancy might play a key role. It has recently been suggested that this abnormal placentation may result in transfusion of fetal cells (feto-maternal transfusion) in women with pre-eclampsia. In the present study, fetal nucleated red blood cells were isolated from 20 women with pre-eclampsia and 20 controls using a very efficient magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) protocol. The number of male cells was determined using two-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for X and Y chromosomes. Significantly more XY cells could be detected in women with pre-eclampsia (0.61+/-1.2 XY cells/ml blood) compared to women with uncomplicated pregnancies (0.02+/-0.04 XY cells/ml blood) (Mann-Whitney U-test, p<0.001). These results suggest that fetal cell trafficking is enhanced in women with pre-eclampsia, and this finding may contribute to the understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease.
Jansen
M W
MW
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasmus University and University Hospital Dijkzigt, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. jansen@ikg.fgg.eur.nl
Korver-Hakkennes
K
K
van Leenen
D
D
Visser
W
W
in 't Veld
P A
PA
de Groot
C J
CJ
Wladimiroff
J W
JW
D000328:Adult; D002469:Cell Separation; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D004912:Erythrocytes; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology*; D005331:Fetomaternal Transfusion / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008280:Magnetics; D008297:Male; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D014960:X Chromosome; D014998:Y Chromosome