Beta-amyloid peptides(1–42) and (1–40) in the cerebrospinal fluid during pregnancy: a prospective observational study

• Published in: Archives of women's mental health 2021-06, Vol.24 (3), p.455-461
• Main Authors: Alomar-Dominguez, Cristina, Dostal, L., Thaler, J., Putz, G., Humpel, C., Lederer, W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alzheimer's disease; Amyloid beta-Peptides - cerebrospinal fluid; Amyloid beta-protein; Anesthesia; Biomarkers; Brain; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor - cerebrospinal fluid; Cerebrospinal fluid; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Female; Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor; Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor - cerebrospinal fluid; Gynecology; Health aspects; Humans; Measurement; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neuronal-glial interactions; Neuroplasticity; Neurotrophic factors; Neurotrophic functions; Observational studies; Original; Original Article; Peptide Fragments - cerebrospinal fluid; Peptides; Physiological aspects; Pregnancy; Pregnancy - cerebrospinal fluid; Pregnancy Trimester, Second; Prospective Studies; Psychiatry; Psychotherapy; Puncture; Spine; Surgery; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - cerebrospinal fluid; Womens health; β-Amyloid
• ISSN: 1434-1816; 1435-1102
• DOI: 10.1007/s00737-020-01072-6

To evaluate changes in concentrations of selected biomarkers, neurotrophic factors, and growth factors in the cerebrospinal fluid during pregnancy. A prospective observational study was conducted in 32 pregnant women undergoing gynecological and obstetrical surgery under spinal anesthesia in a university hospital. Beta-amyloid(1–42) and beta-amyloid(1–40) peptides, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor were analyzed in cerebrospinal fluid using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Eight women in second trimester pregnancy who underwent spinal anesthesia for gynecological or obstetrical surgery were compared with 24 matched women in third trimester pregnancies. CSF concentrations of beta-amyloid(1–42) were significantly higher in third trimester pregnancies ( p  = 0.025). During third trimester, the beta-amyloid ratio correlated with the vascular endothelial growth factor ( r s  = 0.657; p  = 0.008). Higher concentrations of beta-amyloid(1–42) in cerebrospinal fluid of third trimester pregnancies and correlations between the beta-amyloid ratio and the vascular endothelial growth factor support the hypothesis that beta-amyloid peptides are involved in complex adaptive brain alterations during pregnancy.