title: Evaluation of physiological alterations of the placenta through analysis of cell-free messenger ribonucleic acid concentrations of angiogenic factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Placental messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) has been shown to circulate in maternal plasma. We investigated concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptor-1 (VEGFR-1), and endoglin in subjects with preeclampsia, compared with normal pregnancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood samples were obtained from preeclampsia (n = 43) and control subjects (n = 41). Plasma ribonucleic acid was subjected to analysis by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay to examine the mRNA distribution among women with preeclampsia and control subjects during weeks 35-41 of gestation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Concentrations of VEGF, VEGFR-1, and endoglin mRNA of women with preeclampsia were significantly increased. The mRNA values were observed to correlate directly with the severity of hypertension and proteinuria. VEGFR-1 mRNA was markedly elevated in women with preeclampsia and hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet syndrome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mRNA concentrations of VEGF, VEGFR-1, and endoglin were observed to correlate directly with the severity of preeclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuditiya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Purwosunu
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sekizawa
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farina
authors.forename: Noroyono
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wibowo
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koide
authors.forename: Shiho
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okazaki
authors.forename: Masamitsu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010920:Placenta / Q000503:physiopathology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011336:Probability; D012313:RNA / Q000097:blood; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D012313:RNA; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1