title: PAPP-A levels of late pregnancy in preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the relationship between pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) levels and preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome at last trimester and to investigate if the severity of preeclampsia would be associated with PAPP-A levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four groups were constructed; mild-preeclampsia group consisted of 19 women, severe-preeclampsia group 17, HELLP group 5 and control group 32 women. All groups were matched strictly for gestational age at last trimester. Maternal blood samples for PAPP-A were collected as soon as the patients were diagnosed as preeclampsia or HELLP syndrome at last trimester and compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean ages of participants, parity, gestational week, and fetal weights were similar. Mean PAPP-A levels were significantly higher in preeclampsia and HELLP groups compared to control group. PAPP-A levels were not different among mild-severe preeclampsia and HELLP groups. There was significant, positive and strong correlation between gestational age and PAPP-A level and also between fetal weight and PAPP-A levels (correlation coefficents = 0.83 and 0.78 respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PAPP-A level at last trimester increases in all mild-severe preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome, but is not predictive for severity of preeclampsia or HELLP syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Sisli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. alevatis@mynet.com
authors.forename: Alev
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Atis
authors.forename: Yavuz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Basol
authors.forename: Semih
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaleli
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Turgay
authors.forename: Nimet
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Goker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D017359:HELLP Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A / Q000032:analysis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A