title: Significant decrease in maternal serum concentrations of angiopoietin-1 and -2 after delivery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the physiological distribution of angiopoietins (Ang)-1 and Ang-2 and soluble endothelial cell-specific tyrosine kinase receptor-2 (Tie-2) at term and following delivery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Helsinki University Central Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty healthy term pregnant women undergoing elective cesarean delivery and their newborns.
  
  
  METHODS
  The concentrations were analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in maternal antepartum and the first postpartum day sera, umbilical serum, amniotic fluid and maternal and newborn urine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Concentrations of Ang-1, Ang-1 and Tie-2. Results. Concentrations of maternal serum Ang-1 and Ang-2 decreased after delivery {[median (range)]: Ang-1, from 33 (25-51) to 30 (18-49) ng/mL, p= 0.017; and Ang-2, from 5.4 (1.8-18) to 1.4 (0.7-4.6) ng/mL, p < 0.0001}, whereas Tie-2 concentrations remained stable [23 (13-41) vs. 25 (14-29) ng/mL, p= 0.107]. Compared with maternal antepartum serum, umbilical serum concentrations of Ang-1 [46 (28-59) ng/mL, p < 0.0001] and Tie-2 [45 (21-71) ng/mL, p < 0.0001] were higher and those of Ang-2 similar [5.4 (1.8-18) vs. 4.2 (2.9-6.0) ng/mL; p= 0.067]. Low concentrations of Ang-1 [1.2 (0.1-2.2) ng/mL], Ang-2 [1.1 (0.3-4.1) ng/mL] and Tie-2 [0.4 (0.08-0.9) ng/mL] were observed in amniotic fluid, but they were undetectable in newborn urine and in most of the maternal urine samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal Ang-1 and Ang-2 concentrations decreased following delivery. Umbilical concentrations of Ang-1 and Tie-2 were higher than the maternal concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. elina.keikkala@hus.fi
authors.forename: Elina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Keikkala
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hytinantti
authors.forename: Katja-Anneli
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Wathén
authors.forename: Sture
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: Piia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vuorela
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D042683:Angiopoietin-1 / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D042702:Angiopoietin-2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D002585:Cesarean Section; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D042787:Receptor, TIE-2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D042683:Angiopoietin-1; D042702:Angiopoietin-2; D042787:Receptor, TIE-2