Transforming growth factor-beta 1 serum levels in pregnancy and pre-eclampsia.
BACKGROUND
Isoforms of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta1) are thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia. Data with respect to TGF-beta1 are controversial. We examined the correlation between TGF-beta1 serum levels and the occurrence and severity of pre-eclampsia.


METHODS
Transforming growth factor-beta 1 serum levels were measured using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 44 women with pre-eclampsia and 44 healthy pregnant women. Results were correlated with clinical data.


RESULTS
No difference in TGF-beta1 serum levels was assessed between women with pre-eclampsia and healthy pregnant women. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 serum levels were not associated with the severity of the disease and were not correlated with clinical maternal (blood pressure, proteinuria) and fetal (5-min APGAR score, umbilical cord pH values, birth weight) parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data support the assumption that in contrast to other isoforms, TGF-beta1, as evidenced by serum TGF-beta1 levels, does not seem to be involved in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia.
Huber
Ambros
A
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Vienna Medical School, Vienna, Austria.
Hefler
Lukas
L
Tempfer
Clemens
C
Zeisler
Harald
H
Lebrecht
Antje
A
Husslein
Peter
P
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1
D015415:Biomarkers; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1