title: The relationship between brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, and uterine artery doppler velocimetry in women with pre-eclampsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels and endothelial function in pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia and to clarify their relationship with uterine artery Doppler velocimetry.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was carried out in 70 pregnant women (35 patients with pre-eclampsia and 35 age-matched normotensive healthy pregnant women) during the third trimester of pregnancy. The maternal levels of serum hs-CRP were determined in all cases by immunonephelometry. Uterine artery Doppler velocimetry was performed. Flow-mediated dilatation was measured by sonography of the brachial artery for the assessment of endothelial function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum hs-CRP levels were higher in the pre-eclamptic group than in the normotensive group. hs-CRP levels were positively correlated with mean arterial pressure. Eleven patients with pre-eclampsia had abnormal uterine artery Doppler velocimetry. hs-CRP levels were significantly higher in pre-eclamptic patients with than without abnormal uterine artery Doppler velocimetry. Endothelial function was inversely correlated with hs-CRP levels and mean arterial pressure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that maternal serum hs-CRP levels increase with the severity of pre-eclampsia, reflecting endothelial dysfunction and constituting a potential marker of pathological utero-placental perfusion, with a high risk for fetal growth restriction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ertan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Adali
authors.forename: Mertihan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurdoglu
authors.forename: Fulya
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Adali
authors.forename: Numan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cim
authors.forename: Recep
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yildizhan
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kolusari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D055988:Uterine Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein