SOLUBLE INTERCELLULAR-ADHESION MOLECULE-1 SERUM PROFILE IN PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PREECLAMPTIC PREGNANCY

PROBLEM: The aim of this study was to determine serum levels of solubl e intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM)-1, an adhesion receptor that mediates interactions with the immune system, in physiologic and pree clamptic pregnancies. Moreover, we evaluated whether the release of sI CAM-1 during pregnancy correlated to plasma fibronectin concentrations . METHOD OF STUDY: Serum was collected from 18 nonpregnant, control wo men, from 58 normal pregnant women during the first (n = 13), second ( n = 15), and third (n = 30) trimesters, and from 25 preeclamptic patie nts at 27-39 weeks' gestation. All samples were assayed for sICAM-1 by a specific enzyme-linked immunoassay and for fibronectin bg a nephelo metric system. Serum sICAM-1 levels in preeclamptic patients were comp ared to those obtained from gestational-matched normal pregnant women. RESULTS: Levels of sICAM-1 were significantly elevated (P < 0.001) n each of the three trimesters of normal pregnancy (I trimester: 390.4 /- 25.7 ng/ml; II trimester: 386.3 +/- 15.4 ng/ml; and III trimester: 367.3 +/- 15.8 ng/ml) when compared to those of healthy nonpregnant wo men (263.3 +/- 11.6 ng/ml). No significant difference in sICAM-1 conce ntrations was observed among the three trimesters. Preeclampsia was as sociated to a significant decrease (P < 0.01) of sICAM-1 levels (309.8 +/- 11.6 ng/ml) relative to those observed in gestational-matched pre gnant women (367.3 +/- 15.8 ng/ml). Fibronectin and sICAM-1 levels did not correlate. CONCLUSION: The increased levels of sICAM-1 found in p hysiologic pregnancies and its reduction in preeclampsia may account f or some of the immunologic alterations demonstrated to be associated w ith pregnancy.