title: Detection of circulating trophoblast particles in maternal blood using density gradient centrifugation in preeclampsia and in normotensive pregnancies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Preeclampsia (PE) is a frequent pregnancy-related disease and a major cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Despite that, exact mechanisms of its pathophysiology remain largely unknown. In pregnancies complicated by PE, changes in the regulation of apoptosis seem to result in increased apoptotic shedding of trophoblast particles (TPs) into maternal circulation. Since the number of TP in peripheral blood is low, their detection necessitates pre-analytical enrichment.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective multicenter pilot study we aimed to analyze TP in peripheral blood of 29 women with PE and of 13 unaffected controls using the OncoQuick®plus system for cell enrichment. Using immunocytochemistry, slides were evaluated microscopically for TP. Statistical analyses were performed using Welch's t-test or Fisher's exact test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TP were detected in 10 (34.5%) women with PE and in two (15.4%) of unaffected controls. More than one TP were only found in PE. Comparing the mean counts of TP between groups, we detected significantly more TP in PE (p = 0.046).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The OncoQuick®plus system can be applied to detect TP in both women with PE and in normotensive pregnancies. Longitudinal studies investigating the role of TP as a screening method for patients at risk for PE are warranted.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Medical University of Vienna , Vienna , Austria.
authors.forename: Lorenz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kuessel
authors.affiliation: b Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University of Duisburg-Essen , Essen , Germany.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kasimir-Bauer
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Medical University of Vienna , Vienna , Austria.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zeillinger
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Medical University of Vienna , Vienna , Austria.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pateisky
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Medical University of Vienna , Vienna , Austria.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ott
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Medical University of Vienna , Vienna , Austria.
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zeisler
authors.affiliation: b Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University of Duisburg-Essen , Essen , Germany.
authors.forename: Cahit
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Birdir
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014327:Trophoblasts; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Density gradient centrifugation; OncoQuick®plus; enrichment; preeclampsia; trophoblast particles