Serum concentrations of CA-125 in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies.
OBJECTIVE
The present prospective study aims to investigate the serum concentrations of CA-125 in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies and thus to specify the clinical utility of this biochemical marker in prediction, diagnosis and follow up of preeclampsia.


METHODS
The present study reviews a total of 242 women with singleton pregnancy. These participants were categorized into three groups: control (n = 100), mild preeclampsia (n = 78) and severe preeclampsia (n = 64). The three study groups were statistically similar in aspects of maternal age, gestational age and body mass index.


RESULTS
Serum CA-125 concentrations were found to correlate positively with systolic blood pressure (r = 0.345, p = 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.379, p = 0.001), platelet count (r = 0.368, p = 0.001), serum levels of uric acid (r = 0.415, p = 0.001) and urine concentrations of protein (r = 0.357, p = 0.001). On the other hand, CA-125 levels correlated negatively with estimated fetal weight (r = -0.451, p = 0.001) and birthweight (r = -0.363, p = 0.001). When the cut-off point for serum CA-125 concentrations was accepted as 50 IU/ml, the sensitivity and specificity of this biochemical marker were, respectively, 93.7 and 88.0% for the detection of preeclamptic pregnancies. On the other hand, positive and negative predictive values for CA-125 were computed as 91.7 and 90.7%, respectively ( χ (2) = 30,184, p = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The present study suggests that CA-125 is a biochemical marker which reflects the severity of the underlying inflammatory process in preeclampsia. Since it is much more available and relatively less expensive, it seems to be a promising test for screening preeclampsia. In accordance, the present study suggests 50 IU/ml as a cut-off point for CA-125 in screening preeclampsia.
Department of Perinatology, Dr. Zekai Tahir Burak Women Health Research and Education Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Mustafa
M
Ozat
Mine
M
Kanat-Pektas
Okan
O
Yenicesu
Tayfun
T
Gungor
Nuri
N
Danisman
Leyla
L
Mollamahmutoglu
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001724:Birth Weight; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D020567:Fetal Weight; D006801:Humans; D010976:Platelet Count; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000652:urine; D012372:ROC Curve; D012016:Reference Values; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D014527:Uric Acid