title: Cathepsin D levels are reduced in patients with preeclampsia in Korean population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the circulating levels of cathepsin D in preeclamptic and normotensive pregnancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty pregnant and 20 healthy non-pregnant patients were enrolled in this study. Of the 50 pregnant patients, 15 were preeclamptic and 35 patients were normotensive. Serum levels of soluble cathepsin D were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cathepsin D levels were significantly lower in preeclamptic patients than normotensive pregnant patients (p=0.033). The serum levels of cathepsin D in preeclamptic and non-pregnant healthy patients showed similar results. The serum levels of cathepsin D were not positively correlated with preeclampsia severity or the incidence of delivery of small for gestational age infants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that a reduced cathepsin D level is an important factor that may contribute to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, possibly by inhibiting normal trophoblastic invasion. These results contribute to the understanding of this serious obstetric problem.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Ho Yeon
authors: HY
authors: Kim
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Lee
authors: Hye Won
authors: HW
authors: Kang
authors: ChongSoo
authors: C
authors: Moon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D002402:Cathepsin D / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D008875:Middle Aged; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012016:Reference Values; D056910:Republic of Korea; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002402:Cathepsin D
keywords: Cathepsin D; Preeclampsia