title: Endothelial activation and cell adhesion molecule concentrations in pregnant women living at high altitude.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Maternal physiology at high altitude could be considered to resemble an intermediate state between preeclampsia and normal pregnancy. The objective of the current study was to determine if cell adhesion molecules, known to be increased in preeclampsia, are increased with chronic maternal and placental hypoxia (due to high-altitude residence) in the absence of preeclampsia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum was collected from women residing at 3100 m or 1600 m in the three trimesters of pregnancy and postpartum. Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  General linear model (GLM) repeated measures analysis of VCAM-1, E-selectin, and ICAM-1 data showed there were no statistically significant effects of gestation within either the high- or moderate-altitude groups or between the different altitudes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increase in cell adhesion molecules reported in preeclampsia is not present in pregnant women at high altitude, suggesting that maternal systemic hypoxia is not responsible for this pathway of endothelial cell activation in preeclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Maternal and Fetal Medicine Section, Institute of Medical Genetics, Yorkhill, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Leah
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: Stacy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zamudio
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cousins
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Duffie
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lyall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis*; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D019040:E-Selectin; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1