PLASMA-CONCENTRATIONS OF LP(A) LIPOPROTEIN AND TGF-BETA(1) ARE ALTERED IN PREECLAMPSIA

This study was performed to investigate the possible association betwe en preeclampsia and the plasma concentrations of Lp(a) lipoprotein and TGF-beta(1) in a large series of patients, Additionally, correlation between the concentrations of these molecules and the severity of pree clampsia or fetal growth retardation was evaluated. Following clinical examination and biochemical analyses, both electroimmunoassay and RIA technique were used for quantitative determinations of plasma Lp(a) l ipoprotein. ELISA technique was used to measure the active form of TGF -beta(1) in plasma of pregnant normotensive and preeclamptic women. We examined 154 women with preeclampsia (preeclampsia group) and 76 heal thy, pregnant normotensive women (control group). The preeclampsia gro up was further divided into the following subgroups: mild preeclampsia , severe preeclampsia and preeclampsia with fetal growth retardation. Plasma levels of Lp(a) lipoprotein were lower in the total preeclampsi a group as well as in all preeclampsia subgroups (5.45+/-7.41, 5.58+/- 8.02, 5.08+/-5.38, and 4.32+/-5.28 mg/dl in the total preeclampsia gro up, and in subgroups with mild preeclampsia, severe preeclampsia, and preeclampsia with fetal growth retardation, respectively) than in the control group (7.84+/-9.26 mg/dl) as determined by quantitative electr oimmunoassay. Corresponding results were obtained with a radioimmunoas say (166.03+/-200.2 U/l in the total preeclampsia group vs. 229.18+/-2 57.7 U/l in controls). There was good correlation between the two meth ods used for Lp(a) lipoprotein measurement. The differences between co ntrols and the total preeclampsia group as well as each preeclampsia s ubgroup were statistically significant by a non-parametric test (one-w ay Kruskal-Wallis test). Plasma concentrations of the active form of T GF-beta(1) were increased in all preeclampsia subgroups as well as in the total group (5.63+/-1.68 ng/ml) compared to controls (4.67+/-1.33 ng/ml). This increase in TGF-beta(1) was statistically highly signific ant. Plasma concentrations of Lp(a) lipoprotein and the active form of TGF-beta(1) did not differ significantly between the preeclampsia sub groups. The outcome of this study may suggest involvement of both para meters in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia and may substantiate the notion of a multifactorial etiology of the disease.