title: Placental expression of angiogenic factors in Trisomy 13.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Increased levels of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase (sFlt-1) in Trisomy 13 pregnancies are thought to be mediated by the placenta. This study aimed to compare sFlt-1 expression in Trisomy 13 (n = 7) placentas with that in control placentas (Trisomy 21, n = 11, and euploid, n = 6).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective case-control study analyzing paraffin-embedded placental blocks that were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and antibodies to sFlt-1. Their staining intensity was compared using a semiquantitative technique. The Kruskal-Wallis test and Wilcox rank sum test were used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median staining was significantly higher in Trisomy 13 compared with control specimens (P = .008) (for Trisomy 13 vs Trisomy 21, P = .003, and Trisomy 13 vs euploid, P = .004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study demonstrates that Trisomy 13 placentas express more sFlt-1 than control placentas. These results strengthen the hypothesis that the increased incidence of preeclampsia in Trisomy 13 pregnancies is secondary to placental up-regulation of sFlt-1.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology/Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Silasi
authors.forename: Sarosh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rana
authors.forename: Camille
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Powe
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Kee-Hak
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Zsuzsanna K
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Zsengellér
authors.forename: S Ananth
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Karumanchi
authors.forename: Isaac E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Stillman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D025063:Chromosome Disorders / Q000378:metabolism*; D002882:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13 / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010920:Placenta / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014314:Trisomy; D000073839:Trisomy 13 Syndrome; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1