title: Angiopoietin-1/angiopoietin-2 ratio for prediction of preeclampsia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A number of different biophysical and biochemical markers have been proposed as predictors of preeclampsia. Factors involved in the angiogenic balance are suggested as candidate markers. The purpose of this prospective, longitudinal cohort study was to determine whether a ratio between Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) can be used to predict preeclampsia in a low-risk population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort of healthy pregnant women (n = 469) were enrolled at gestational weeks 8-12. Plasma samples were collected at gestational weeks 10, 25, 28, 33, and 37. By using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits Ang-1 and Ang-2 were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median Ang-1/Ang-2 ratio increased during pregnancy in all women, but the ratios were significantly lower at gestational weeks 25 and 28 in women who later developed preeclampsia than in normal pregnant women (1.49 compared to 2.19 and 2.12 compared to 3.54, P < 0.05 and P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data indicate that in a low-risk population of women the Ang-1/Ang-2 ratio in plasma constitutes a possible biomarker for prediction of later onset of preeclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bolin
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wiberg-Itzel
authors.forename: Anna-Karin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Wikström
authors.forename: Margareta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goop
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.forename: Matts
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olovsson
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akerud
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D042683:Angiopoietin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D042702:Angiopoietin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D042683:Angiopoietin-1; D042702:Angiopoietin-2; D015415:Biomarkers