Preeclampsia is associated with an elevation of plasma sMet concentrations in the second trimester.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the association between anti-angiogenic factor soluble c-Met (sMet) concentrations in maternal plasma and the risk of preeclampsia.


METHODS
The pregnant women included in this study (1) had subsequent preeclampsia (n = 52) and were compared to normal controls (n = 104) at the time of amniocentesis (15-20 weeks); and (2) had preeclampsia (n = 63) and were compared to normal controls (n = 112) at the time of diagnosis of preeclampsia (29-40 weeks). sMet concentrations were measured by ELISA. Non-parametric statistics were used for analysis.


RESULTS
Maternal plasma sMet concentrations were significantly higher in both women with subsequent preeclampsia (median: 1372.7 ng/ml versus 1100.5 ng/ml; p = 0.036) and women with preeclampsia (median: 1651.9 ng/ml versus 1364.7 ng/ml; p < 0.001) than in the controls. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, the risks of developing preeclampsia were as follows: adjusted odds ratio 2.5 (95% confidence interval, 1.2-5.2; p = 0.016) for second trimester sMet concentration with a cut-off value of 1223.5 ng/ml and 4.4 (95% confidence interval, 2.2-9.1; p < 0.001) for third trimester sMet concentration with a cut-off value of 1460.3 ng/ml.


CONCLUSIONS
Elevated maternal plasma sMet concentrations were independently associated with the increased risk of preeclampsia.
Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Cheil General Hospital and Women's Healthcare Center, Seoul, Korea.
Shin Young
SY
Kim
So Yeon
SY
Park
Mi Jin
MJ
Kim
Bom Yi
BY
Lee
Jung Yeol
JY
Han
Hyun Mee
HM
Ryu
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000097:blood*; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012995:Solubility
D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met