mRNA of placental origin in maternal serum of women with normal and preeclamptic pregnancies.
OBJECTIVE
We quantified placenta-specific mRNA from maternal blood to evaluate differences in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies.


METHODS
mRNA was purified from 560 microl serum using the QIAamp Viral RNA Mini Kit in 8 women with normal and 8 women with preeclamptic pregnancies.


RESULTS
The relative amounts for beta-hCG, CRH and hPL in serum samples of each study group showed a broad variety in the expression levels within one group. Higher amounts for CRH were found in most cases of preeclampsia, for beta-hCG and hPL the amounts for women with preeclamptic pregnancies were tenfold below the values found for normal pregnancies.


CONCLUSIONS
This method is not useful to distinguish between normal and preeclamptic pregnancies in the second trimester and later. Whether it can be applied for early diagnosis of preeclampsia has to be elucidated in further studies.
Schmidt
Markus
M
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany. markus.schmidt@uk-essen.de
Hoffmann
Barbara
B
Kimmig
Rainer
R
Kasimir-Bauer
Sabine
S
D000328:Adult; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D010920:Placenta / Q000166:cytology*; D010928:Placental Lactogen / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood*
D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D010928:Placental Lactogen