Relationship of circulating cell-free DNA levels to cell-free fetal DNA levels, clinical characteristics and laboratory parameters in preeclampsia.
BACKGROUND
The aim of our study was to examine whether increased circulating total cell-free DNA levels are related to the clinical characteristics and standard laboratory parameters of preeclamptic patients, to markers of inflammation, endothelial activation or injury, oxidative stress and to cell-free fetal DNA levels.


METHODS
Circulating total cell-free DNA was measured by real-time quantitative PCR in plasma samples obtained from 67 preeclamptic and 70 normotensive pregnant women. Standard laboratory parameters, C-reactive protein, plasma von Willebrand factor antigen, plasma fibronectin, plasma malondialdehyde and cell-free fetal DNA levels were also determined.


CONCLUSIONS
Circulating total cell-free and fetal deoxyribonucleic acid levels were significantly elevated in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia (median: 11.395 vs. 32.460 and 0.001 vs. 0.086 pg/microl; P < .001). The quantity of plasma total cell-free DNA did not correlate with most of the laboratory parameters, except for serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities (correlation coefficient: 0.31; P = 0.012 and 0.46; P < .001). There was no correlation with clinical characteristics, including body mass index. The releases of both free fetal and total cell-free deoxyribonucleic acid were found to be affected in preeclampsia. Hepatocellular necrosis seems to be responsible--at least partly--for increased circulating total DNA levels in preeclampsia, as suggested by the significant correlation with liver enzyme activities.
Lazar
Levente
L
1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. lazar_levente@hotmail.com
Rigó
János
J
Nagy
Bálint
B
Balogh
Krisztián
K
Makó
Veronika
V
Cervenak
László
L
Mézes
Miklós
M
Prohászka
Zoltán
Z
Molvarec
Attila
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002474:Cell-Free System; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
D004247:DNA