Serum pentraxin-3 levels at 11 to 14 weeks' gestation: association with maternal and placental characteristics.
OBJECTIVE
Pentraxin (PTX)-3 is an inflammatory molecule that may be increased in the first trimester in pregnancies with subsequent preeclampsia. We measured first-trimester serum PTX-3 and correlated levels with maternal/placental factors related to placental development.


METHODS
Prospectively enrolled women had ultrasound, physical examination, and blood draw at 11-14 weeks. PTX-3 determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was related to maternal age, parity, race, body mass index (BMI), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), smoking/caffeine, and uterine/umbilical artery Doppler pulsatility index (PI).


RESULTS
In 111 patients PTX-3 levels ranged from 0.2-13.8 ng/mL. Spearman correlation between PTX-3 and gestational age (rho = 0.096), maternal age (rho = -0.049), BMI (rho = -0.07), MAP (rho = -0.085), mean uterine artery PI (rho = 0.150), and umbilical artery PI (rho = -0.021) was nonsignificant (all P > .05). Similarly, PTX-3 distribution was unaffected by smoking/caffeine use, BMI >30, MAP >100 mm Hg, or uterine artery notching (P > .05 for all).


CONCLUSIONS
First-trimester PTX-3 is unrelated to maternal characteristics and placental Doppler.
Baschat
Ahmet A
AA
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Kasdaglis
Tania L
TL
Aberdeen
Graham W
GW
Turan
Ozhan M
OM
Kopelman
Jerome L
JL
Atlas
Robert
R
Jenkins
Chuka
C
Blitzer
Miriam
M
Harman
Christopher R
CR
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000502:physiology; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component / Q000032:analysis*; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D000099153:Pentraxins
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component; D000099153:Pentraxins