M. Varma et al., EVALUATION OF PLASMA INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH-FACTOR BINDING PROTEIN-3 AS A POTENTIAL PREDICTOR OF PREECLAMPSIA, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 169(4), 1993, pp. 995-999
OBJECTIVE: Elevated growth factor activity in women with preeclampsia
is caused by an acid- and heat-labile protein complex with a native mo
lecular mass of 150,000. The major plasma insulin-like growth factor-b
inding protein-3 has identical molecular characteristics. We hypothesi
zed that increased endothelial cell release or decreased proteolytic d
egradation of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 in preeclam
psia would result in higher circulating levels of insulin-like growth
factors and hence in increased mitogenic activity. STUDY DESIGN: Plasm
a insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 concentrations were det
ermined by iodine-125 insulin-like growth factor-II radioligand blots
of nonreducing gels in 16 normal and 16 preeclamptic patients collecte
d from a prospective, case-control study. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent
assays also were performed with a specific anti-insulin-like growth fa
ctor binding protein-3 antiserum. RESULTS: Insulin-like growth factor-
binding protein-3 concentrations were not different between women with
normal versus preeclamptic pregnancies (p = 0.23). Enzyme-linked immu
nosorbent assays confirmed these results in a subset of patients. CONC
LUSIONS: The findings indicate that insulin-like growth factor binding
protein-3 concentrations do not account for the elevated mitogenic ac
tivity observed in plasma from women with preeclampsia and are not a u
seful screening test for preeclampsia risk.