Endothelial activation and cell adhesion molecule concentrations in pregnant women living at high altitude.
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.
Marks
Leah
L
Maternal and Fetal Medicine Section, Institute of Medical Genetics, Yorkhill, Glasgow, UK.
Zamudio
Stacy
S
Cousins
Frances
F
Duffie
Elizabeth
E
Lyall
Fiona
F
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
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D019040:E-Selectin; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1