[Circulating endothelial cells and hepatocyte growth factor in patients with pregnancy induced hypertension].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and vascular endothelial cells (VEC) in pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH).


METHODS
Twenty women with PIH (6 mild, and 14 moderate or severe PIH) and 20 women with normal pregnancy were recruited as study group and control group, respectively. The two groups were matched in maternal age, parity and gestational age. Flow cytometer was used for counting the number of peripheral blood circulating endothelial cells (CEC), while enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the concentration of serum HGF.


RESULTS
In the study group, the concentration of HGF was (1395 +/- 512) ng/L, and the number of CEC was (109,360 +/- 24,070) /L. In the control group, the concentration of HGF was (1565 +/- 399) ng/L, and the number of CEC was (21,800 +/- 4420)/L. The differences both in the concentration of HGF and the number of CEC between the two groups were statistically significant (P < 0.01). Negative correlation between CEC and HGF was found both in study group and control group (r = -0.608, P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Decreased HGF may be related to VEC damage in the development of PIH.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Second Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China.
Yan
Y
Wang
Tao
T
Shang
Wei-wei
WW
Tang
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular
D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor