Plasma PP13 and urinary GAGs/PGs as early markers of pre-eclampsia

• Published in: Archives of gynecology and obstetrics 2016-11, Vol.294 (5), p.959-965
• Main Authors: De Muro, Pierina, Capobianco, Giampiero, Lepedda, Antonio Junior, Nieddu, Gabriele, Formato, Marilena, Tram, Nguyen Hai Quy, Idini, Michela, Dessole, Francesco, Dessole, Salvatore
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biomarkers; Cellulose acetate; Chondroitin sulfate; Endocrinology; Female; Galectins - urine; Glycosaminoglycans - urine; Gynecology; Heparan sulfate; Human Genetics; Humans; Hypertension; Maternal-Fetal Medicine; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Obstetrics/Perinatology/Midwifery; Plasma; Pre-Eclampsia - urine; Preeclampsia; Pregnancy; Pregnancy complications; Pregnancy Proteins - urine; Proteoglycans - urine; Urine
• ISSN: 0932-0067; 1432-0711
• DOI: 10.1007/s00404-016-4111-0

Purpose To evaluate at 11–13 weeks’ gestation biochemical markers that may predict complications of pregnancy such as pre-eclampsia, proteinuria, and hypertension. Methods Analyses were performed on first-morning urine and plasma samples from first trimester pregnant women with increased risk of developing pre-eclampsia such as positive personal or family history of cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. A total of 62 women were enrolled, 24 of them presented complications such as pre-eclampsia, proteinuria, and hypertension during pregnancy. The remaining 38 women had a physiological course of pregnancy and formed the reference group. Urine glycosaminoglycans/proteoglycans (GAGs/PGs) distribution was determined by electrophoresis on cellulose acetate strips. Urinary N -acetyl-β-glucosaminidase was estimated kinetically. Plasma levels of placental protein 13 (PP13) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results No significant differences in total GAG excretion and N -acetyl- β -glucosaminidase (NAG) concentration were observed between the two groups of pregnant women, whereas we detected increased relative content of total urinary trypsin inhibitor (UTI plus low-sulfated chondroitin sulfate) ( p  = 0.001) and reduced excretion of heparan sulfate ( p  = 0.007) and chondroitin sulfate ( p  = 0.011) in women presenting with pregnancy complications respect to controls. Plasma levels of PP13 were significantly reduced in the group of women who went on to develop complications compared with controls ( p  = 0.022). Conclusions The reduced plasma levels of PP13 and the alteration of the relative content of urinary GAGs and PGs observed in our study could be a promising tool for the prediction of pre-eclampsia in an early stage of pregnancy.