Placental abruption is more frequent in women with the angiotensinogen Thr235 mutation.
OBJECTIVE
Obstetrical complications such as preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and placental abruption are associated with inadequate placental perfusion. Previous studies have shown that the angiotensinogen (AGT) Thr235 mutation is associated with abnormal remodeling of the uterine spiral arteries and occurs at higher frequencies in preeclampsia. This study was done to evaluate whether the AGT Thr235 mutation increases the risk of placental abruption.


METHODS
We compared 62 placentas from women who had placental abruption with 240 control patients of similar age and ethnicity. DNA was extracted from paraffin blocks from placentas. AGT Met235Thr mutation status was determined by single fluoresceine labeled probe real-time PCR using a LightCycler system.


RESULTS
AGT genotypes were divided into three groups: MM (homozygous wild), TT (homozygous mutant), and MT (heterozygous). The constituent ratio of AGT genotype in abrupted placentas (MM 14.5%, MT 43.5%, TT 41.9%) was significantly different from in control group (MM42.5%, MT 39.6%, TT 17.9%) (p<0.001). AGT mutant allele frequency in placental abruption (0.637) was significantly higher than in the control group (0.377) (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The AGT Thr235 mutation was observed more frequently in placental abruption. AGT Thr235 mutation may be considered a risk factor for placental abruption.
Zhang
X Q
XQ
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Genetics, University of Utah, School of Medicine, 50 N Medical Drive, Wintrobe Building Room 657, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA. xiuquan.zhang@hsc.utah.edu
Craven
C
C
Nelson
L
L
Varner
M W
MW
Ward
K J
KJ
D000037:Abruptio Placentae / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000808:Angiotensinogen / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D013912:Threonine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics
D000808:Angiotensinogen; D013912:Threonine