Selective deficit of angiogenic growth factors characterises pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia

Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1999 Oct;106(10):1019-22. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1999.tb08107.x.

Abstract

Objective: To compare serum levels of angiogenic growth factors vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), placental growth factor (PlGF) and angiogenin in pre-eclamptic women and matched controls.

Design: Retrospective analysis of -70 degrees C stored serum of women who developed pre-eclampsia and matched controls.

Setting: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, St Elisabeth Hospital, Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles.

Sample: Thirty women with pre-eclampsia and 30 normotensive controls matched for age and gestation.

Results: VEGF and PIGF serum levels were significantly lower in pre-eclamptic pregnancies, compared with controls (VEGF 0.31 +/- 1.20 vs 18.30 +/- 24.97 pg/mL, P = 0.0004; PlGF 54.19 +/- 32.05 vs 497.95 +/- 340.51 pg/mL, P < 0.0001). Matched couple analysis showed VEGF serum concentrations to be lower in the majority of pre-eclamptic women and PlGF concentrations to be lower in all pre-eclamptic women. Angiogenin serum levels showed no statistical significant difference between pre-eclamptic pregnancies and controls (523.68 +/- 367.55 vs 670.41 +/- 251.54 ng/mL, P = 0.058), with matched couple analysis showing no clear pattern.

Conclusions: Decreased serum levels of VEGF and PIGF characterise, and therefore seem to be of importance during (the development of), pre-eclampsia. This selective deficit of angiogenic growth factors might in part explain the shallow placentation found in this pregnancy complication.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / blood*
  • Endothelial Growth Factors / blood*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymphokines / blood*
  • Placenta Growth Factor
  • Pre-Eclampsia / blood*
  • Pre-Eclampsia / etiology
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Proteins / blood*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inducing Agents
  • Endothelial Growth Factors
  • Lymphokines
  • PGF protein, human
  • Pregnancy Proteins
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
  • Placenta Growth Factor