Evaluation of VEGF in placental bed biopsies from preeclamptic women by immunohistochemistry.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to determine VEGF protein with immunohistochemical staining in placental bed biopsies of preeclamptic pregnancies in comparison to normal controls.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
The placental bed biopsies were obtained from 12 patients with preeclapmsia and ten patients for a control group at the time of cesarean delivery. Tissue samples of the placental bed were examined for VEGF protein distribution with avidin-biotin-peroxidase immunohistochemistry. Two blinded histopathologists were asked to score each sample for the intensity of staining and the number of cells stained in a randomly selected HPF of each sample. The resulting "H-score" was computed as a product of intensity and percent of cells stained.


RESULTS
VEGF expression was significantly lower in both the myometrium and stroma of the preeclamptic group compared to the control group (77.2 +/- 25.4 vs 134 +/- 44.3, p = 0.007; 194.1 +/- 20.7 vs 170.2 +/- 17, p = 0.017, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
VEGF expression is significantly lower in placental bed biopsies of preeclamptic pregnancies.
Cirpan
T
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.
Akercan
F
F
Terek
M C
MC
Kazandi
M
M
Ozcakir
H T
HT
Giray
G
G
Sagol
S
S
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A