Elevated plasma endothelial microparticles: preeclampsia versus gestational hypertension.
OBJECTIVE
Elevated plasma endothelial microparticle levels have been found to be elevated in women with preeclampsia. However, their role in distinguishing preeclampsia from gestational hypertension remains to be elucidated. The objectives of this study were to compare endothelial microparticle levels among patients with preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, and healthy pregnant control subjects and to evaluate the effect of plasma from women with preeclampsia and gestational hypertension on the release of endothelial microparticles by renal microvascular endothelial cells.


METHODS
A prospective study was conducted on 52 women with preeclampsia, 20 women with gestational hypertension, and 38 healthy pregnant control subjects. Endothelial microparticles were measured by flow cytometry with fluorescent monoclonal mouse anti-human antibodies against CD31, CD42b, and CD62E.


RESULTS
CD31 + /42b - endothelial microparticle levels were 10497 +/- 5145 counts/microL in women with preeclampsia versus 6768 +/- 1810 counts/microL in women with gestational hypertension ( P < .01). In control subjects, CD31 + /42b - endothelial microparticle levels were 6119 +/- 3592 counts/microL. CD62E + endothelial microparticle levels were 1930 +/- 966 counts/microL in women with preeclampsia versus 822 +/- 150 counts/microL in women with gestational hypertension ( P <.01). In control subjects, CD62E + endothelial microparticle levels were 712 +/- 160 counts/microL. Incubation of renal microvascular endothelial cells with plasma from women with preeclampsia resulted in a rise in CD31 + and CD62E + endothelial microparticle levels as compared with women with gestational hypertension and control subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Endothelial microparticle levels are higher in women with preeclampsia than in women with gestational hypertension and control subjects. The measurement of endothelial microparticles may be useful as a diagnostic tool for preeclampsia in pregnant women.
González-Quintero
Víctor H
VH
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Miami School of Medicine, PO Box 016960 (R-136), Miami, FL 33101, USA. vhgonzalez@med.miami.edu
Smarkusky
Loren P
LP
Jiménez
Joaquín J
JJ
Mauro
Lucía M
LM
Jy
Wenche
W
Hortsman
Laurence L
LL
O'Sullivan
Mary J
MJ
Ahn
Yeon S
YS
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000378:metabolism; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000097:blood*; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology*; D010316:Particle Size; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy
D019040:E-Selectin; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1