title: Comparison of activin A and cell-free fetal DNA levels in maternal plasma from patients at high risk for preeclampsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined the concentration of activin A in a prospective manner before the clinical manifestation of preeclampsia and compared the data with those of cell-free fetal DNA in the maternal plasma.
  
  
  METHODS
  The levels of activin A were analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for pregnant women: (1) with preeclampsia (n = 34) in the third-trimester and normal controls (n = 44); and (2) at-risk of preeclampsia in the second-trimester (n = 15) as indicated by uterine artery Doppler and normal controls (n = 68). Correlation between activin A level and cell-free fetal DNA level was examined using the Spearman rank test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The level of plasma activin A was significantly higher in the preeclamptic samples (12.056 vs 7.068 ng/mL, p = 0.000). The increase in the activin A concentration was observed prior to the onset of preeclampsia (3.483 vs 1.324 ng/mL, p = 0.000). This increase in activin A correlated significantly with the increased level of cell-free fetal DNA, in the maternal circulation prior to the onset of preeclampsia (r = 0.977, p = 0.000).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that circulatory activin A could be an independent biomarker for the early identification and monitoring of preeclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Prenatal Medicine and Gynaecological Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Claude Henri
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Diesch
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Holzgreve
authors.forename: Sinuhe
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: Xiao Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Zhong
mesh_terms: D028341:Activins / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply
chemical_list: C422405:activin A; D028341:Activins; D004247:DNA