Angiogenin and vascular endothelial growth factor in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of the angiogenic factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiogenin in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia and how their concentrations correlate with the severity of the disease and fetal outcome.


METHODS
A prospective study was carried out on 71 pregnant patients with preeclampsia and 20 pregnant normotensive controls. Maternal serum levels of VEGF and angiogenin were determined in all cases by enzyme immunoassay. Assessment of fetal well-being using the Biophysical Profile Score (BPS), umbilical and uterine artery Doppler velocimetry, and infant birthweight were carried out.


RESULTS
Maternal serum VEGF and angiogenin levels were significantly increased in cases of mild and severe preeclampsia compared to controls. Their increase was positively correlated with elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as poor BPS, abnormal Doppler velocimetry, and low birthweight.


CONCLUSIONS
Elevated levels of both VEGF and angiogenin could confirm the existence of vascular reactivity and endothelial disturbance in preeclampsia. Measurement of these angiogenic factors in maternal serum may be a useful as biomarkers for the assessment of the severity of the disease and of fetal outcome.
Shaarawy
M
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo, Egypt. mohamedshaarawy@yahoo.com
Al-Sokkary
F
F
Sheba
M
M
Wahba
O
O
Kandil
H O
HO
Abdel-Mohsen
I
I
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D001724:Birth Weight; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012259:Ribonuclease, Pancreatic / Q000097:blood*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000502:physiology; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C046366:angiogenin; D012259:Ribonuclease, Pancreatic