title: Impaired endothelial function and elevated levels of pentraxin 3 in early-onset preeclampsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study endothelial function in relation to anti-angiogenic biomarkers and the inflammatory process in preeclampsia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were obtained from pregnant women who were admitted to the obstetrical ward at the Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five women with newly developed and untreated preeclampsia and 30 healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery, levels of anti-angiogenic and inflammatory markers were measured in plasma during pregnancy and 3-6 months after delivery. Main outcome measures. Flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery, anti-angiogenic and inflammatory markers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Flow-mediated dilation was decreased in the preeclamptic group at inclusion and at follow-up (p<0.05). Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and ratio of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) to placental growth factor (PlGF) were elevated in women with preeclampsia during pregnancy (p<0.001). Furthermore flow-mediated dilation was lower and the ratio sFlt-1/PlGF and PTX3 were higher in early-onset preeclampsia than late preeclampsia (p=0.018, 0.002 and 0.039). Levels of PTX3 at inclusion correlated inversely with flow-mediated dilation at follow-up both in the preeclampsia and control groups (Spearman, r(s) =-0.47, p=0.02 and r(s) =-0.46, p=0.02 respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Impaired endothelial function and increased ratio sFlt/PlGF, elevated PTX3 is present in women with preeclampsia and is especially pronounced in women with early-onset preeclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
authors.forename: Rangeen Rafik
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Hamad
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery.
authors.forename: Maria J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.affiliation: LIME/MedStat, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry and Pharmacology, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bremme
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000097:blood; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component / Q000378:metabolism*; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000097:blood; D000099153:Pentraxins
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D000099153:Pentraxins; C000608036:PGF protein, human