ABSTRACT
Mother-fetus exchanges at the placental level are found to be altered in women affected by hypertensive or diabetic pregnancies. Endothelial dysfunction in the maternal uterine placental circulation is well recognized in preeclampsia, and is an early marker of macrovascular disease, present in pregnancies complicated by impaired glucose tolerance [IGT] and gestational diabetes mellitus [GDM].To evaluate the levels of adhesion molecules [1CAM-1, VCAM-1, sL-selectin] as markers of endothelial dysfunction in infants of preeclamptic or gestational diabetic mothers. 39 newborns were recruited in the present study and were divided into the following groups; group [1], comprised 13 newborn to mothers suffered from preeclampsia; group [2], consisted of 13 newborns to mothers suffered from gestational diabetes, another 13 healthy newborns to healthy mothers were chosen as controls. Adhesion molecules [ICAM-1, VCAM-1, sL-selectin] from umbilical cord were assayed using ELISA technique in all studied groups A significant high levels of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 was observed in preeclamptic as well as gestational diabetic groups when compared to the controls [p<0.01, <0.001 respectively]. Interestingly, this increase was more pronounced in VCAM-1 level in group [1] when compared to group [2], [p<0.001]. On the other h and, ICAM-1 did not show any significance between group [1] and group [2], [p>0.05]. Regarding sL-selectin level, no difference was noted on comparing the preeclamptic group [1] and the control or gestational diabetic group [2], [p>0.05]. Meanwhile, sL-selectin was significantly higher in group [2] when compared to the controls [p<0.01]. Analysis of adhesion molecules, which are markers of endothelial dysregulation, in the fetal circulation at delivery might provide insights into the involvement of the fetal circulation in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia as well as gestational diabetes