Soluble adhesion molecules: marker of pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction.
OBJECTIVE
This study monitored circulating plasma levels of soluble vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) in women with healthy pregnancies, with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), with pre-eclampsia and with pregnancies with isolated intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in order to determine whether elevated concentrations have a predictive value for the clinical signs of those pregnancy-induced disorders.


METHODS
Plasma concentrations of sVCAM-1, sICAM-1 and sE-selectin were determined in healthy pregnant women at each trimester of pregnancy and in pregnant women with PIH, pre-eclampsia and IUGR using commercial kits.


RESULTS
In the group of healthy pregnant women, plasma levels of sVCAM-1, sICAM-1 and sE-selectin did not change throughout pregnancy. No significant differences in the levels of these molecules were observed between healthy pregnant women at the third trimester of pregnancy and women with PIH. In addition, concentrations of soluble adhesion molecules were significantly higher in women with pre-eclampsia than in the group of women with healthy pregnancies. Only sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin levels were significantly higher in women with IUGR compared to healthy pregnant women.


CONCLUSIONS
Abnormally circulating levels of sVCAM-1, sICAM-1 and sE-selectin may have a predictive value for pre-eclampsia and IUGR, as they may be linked with endothelial activation and/or damage.
Coata
G
G
Centre of Perinatal and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Gynecological, Obstetrical and Pediatric Sciences, University of Perugia, Italy.
Pennacchi
L
L
Bini
V
V
Liotta
L
L
Di Renzo
G C
GC
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000097:blood*; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011264:Pregnancy Trimesters; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012016:Reference Values; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D019040:E-Selectin; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1