title: Maternal serum angiopoietin-1 and -2 and tie-2 in early pregnancy ending in preeclampsia or intrauterine growth retardation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The antiangiogenic growth factor angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) antagonizes, whereas angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) activates the endothelial cell-specific tyrosine kinase receptor-2 (Tie-2). In preeclampsia, circulating concentrations of Ang-1 are increased and those of Ang-2 and Tie-2 are decreased.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We wanted to study whether maternal serum concentrations of Ang-1, Ang-2, and Tie-2 are altered at gestational wk 12-15 or 16-20 in women with subsequent preeclampsia or intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in Helsinki University Central Hospital, a tertiary referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study comprised 124 pregnant women, of whom 49 developed preeclampsia and 16 gave birth to infants with IUGR, and 59 healthy women served as controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum concentrations of Ang-1, Ang-2, and Tie-2 were assessed by ELISA. Data were combined with our earlier data on soluble VEGF receptor (sVEGFR)-1.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At gestational wk 12-15, the median concentrations of Ang-1, Ang-2, or Tie-2 were all similar between the study groups. At 16-20 wk, Ang-2 concentrations were higher in women with subsequent preeclampsia [25.0 ng/ml, 19.3-39.5 ng/ml; median, interquartile range (IQR)] than in the controls (17.7 ng/ml, 10.8-27.4 ng/ml, P = 0.006). The odds ratio of high Ang-2 concentrations for subsequent preeclampsia was 4.2 (95% confidence interval 1.4-12.6; P = 0.011) and high Ang-2 combined with high sVEGFR-1, 6.4 (95% confidence interval 2.2-18.7; P = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal serum Ang-2 concentrations are increased prior to preeclampsia. High concentrations of both Ang-2 and sVEGFR-1 indicate subsequent disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Biomedicum, Helsinki 00029 HUS, Finland. elina.a.leinonen@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: Elina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leinonen
authors.forename: Katja-Anneli
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Wathén
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alfthan
authors.forename: Olavi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ylikorkala
authors.forename: Sture
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: Ulf-Håkan
authors.initials: UH
authors.lastname: Stenman
authors.forename: Piia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vuorela
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D042683:Angiopoietin-1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D042702:Angiopoietin-2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000097:blood; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000097:blood; D011379:Prognosis; D042787:Receptor, TIE-2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C467630:ANGPT1 protein, human; D042683:Angiopoietin-1; D042702:Angiopoietin-2; D042787:Receptor, TIE-2; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1