ABSTRACT
This study aimed to evaluate soluble endoglin (sEng) in urine as a preeclampsia predictor. Ninety-three pregnant women at risk for preeclampsia were followed. Spot urine sample ELISA analysis before 20 weeks of gestation was done to assess protein levels. Logistic regression analysis evaluated associations between preeclampsia with sEng/creatinine ratio, pg/mg, adjusted for risk factors. Preeclampsia incidence was 22.8% (20/92). Urinary sEng/creatinine (pg/mg) 0.001 (95% CI 0.001-0.136) was associated, adjusted for body mass index > 28 kg/m2 OR 6.44 (95% CI 1.11-37.47) and mean arterial pressure OR 1.20 (1.07-1.35). During the first half of gestation sEng urinary excretion was lower in pregnant women developing preeclampsia.Impact statementWhat is already known on this subject? The angiogenesis factors present in the plasma of pregnant women have shown good preclinical predictors of preeclampsia. Studies on urinary markers in pregnancy are infrequent, despite the ease of obtaining urine specimens.What do the results of this study add? Values of the sEng/creatinine ratio during the first half of pregnancy were related to a higher chance of preeclampsia occurring when it was evaluated alone or adjusted by body mass index and mean arterial pressure values.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The potential benefits of a urinary test compared to one of the blood levels include its non-invasive nature and ease of performing the test, even during prenatal care. Future research is expected to evaluate the sEng/creatinine ratio relevance to improve clinical scores of preeclampsia prediction for the identification of women at risk for this disease.
Subject(s)
Endoglin/analysis , Noninvasive Prenatal Testing/methods , Pre-Eclampsia/diagnosis , Pregnancy Trimester, Second/urine , Adult , Biomarkers/urine , Creatinine/urine , Feasibility Studies , Female , Humans , Incidence , Logistic Models , Longitudinal Studies , Odds Ratio , Pre-Eclampsia/epidemiology , Predictive Value of Tests , Pregnancy , Risk Assessment , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate plasma levels of angiogenic factors and their association with preeclampsia. METHODS: Twenty-three women with preeclampsia and nine normotensive pregnant women from the Maternity of Hospital das Clínicas of Belo Horizonte/MG-Brazil were assessed by National High Blood Pressure Education Program Working Group Creteria (NHBPEPWG). The plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Placental growth factor (PlGF) were determined by ELISA assay. RESULTS: Plasma concentration of PlGF was 12-fold lower in preeclampsia versus non preeclampsia pregnancies. An inverse correlation was observed between PlGF plasma levels and mean arterial pressure (MAP); a decrease in 1pg/mL of PlGF resulted in 6.18 mm Hg increase in MAP. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that PlGF is related to MAP in pregnant women.
Subject(s)
Hypertension/blood , Pre-Eclampsia/blood , Pre-Eclampsia/diagnosis , Pregnancy Proteins/blood , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/blood , Adult , Biomarkers , Brazil , Case-Control Studies , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Female , Humans , Hypertension/diagnosis , Placenta Growth Factor , PregnancyABSTRACT
Left ventricular dysfunction in Chagas' disease is common but can be difficult to detect. We investigated whether measurement of plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) could identify patients with left ventricular dysfunction who need further investigation or treatment. Among patients with an abnormal electrocardiogram or chest radiograph, a BNP concentration of 60.7 pmol/L or higher has a sensitivity and positive predictive value of 80%, and specificity and negative predictive value of 97%. Measurement of plasma BNP concentration could be a useful method to screen patients with Chagas' disease.
