Altered circulating levels of adhesion molecules at 18 weeks’ gestation among women with eventual preeclampsia: Indicators of disturbed placentation in absence of evidence of endothelial dysfunction?

Clausen, Torun; Djurovic, Srdjan; Brosstad, Frank R.; Berg, Kåre; Henriksen, Tore

« Previous Next »American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 182, Issue 2 , Pages 321-325, February 2000

Altered circulating levels of adhesion molecules at 18 weeks’ gestation among women with eventual preeclampsia: Indicators of disturbed placentation in absence of evidence of endothelial dysfunction?☆☆☆

Oslo, Norway

From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aker University Hospital,^a the Institute for Medical Genetics and the Department of Medical Genetics, Ullevål University Hospital,^b the Research Institute for Internal Medicine, National Hospital,^c and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Hospital and Institute for Nutrition Research,^d University of Oslo

Received 15 April 1999; received in revised form 5 August 1999; accepted 23 September 1999.

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether indications of activation of the maternal endothelium were present at 18 weeks’ gestation in women in whom preeclampsia eventually developed. Study Design: A total of 2190 blood samples were obtained at 18 weeks’ gestation. Circulating levels of von Willebrand factor and soluble vascular adhesion molecule 1, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and E-selectin were assayed in 71 women with eventual preeclampsia and 71 control subjects. Results: E-selectin and von Willebrand factor levels were similar between the 2 groups. Soluble vascular adhesion molecule 1 concentration was significantly lower in the women with eventual preeclampsia (median, 649.0 ng/mL vs 762.4 ng/mL; P < .001), whereas soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 concentration was significantly higher (median, 239.8 ng/mL vs 178.3 ng/mL; P < .001). Conclusion: We found no indications of endothelial activation at 18 weeks’ gestation in women in whom preeclampsia later developed. However, decreased serum concentration of soluble vascular adhesion molecule 1 and increased serum concentration of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 may reflect the disturbed placentation known to be associated with the development of preeclampsia. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2000;182:321-5.)

Keywords: Adhesion molecules, endothelial dysfunction, placentation, preeclampsia, von Willebrand factor