A. Reuvekamp et al., Selective deficit of angiogenic growth factors characterises pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia, BR J OBST G, 106(10), 1999, pp. 1019-1022
Objective To compare serum levels of angiogenic growth factors vascular end
othelial growth factor (VEGF), placental growth factor (PlGF) and angiogeni
n in pre-eclamptic women and matched controls.
Design Retrospective analysis of -70 degrees C stored serum of women who de
veloped pre-eclampsia and matched controls.
Setting Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, St Elisabeth Hospital, Cu
racao, Netherlands Antilles.
Sample Thirty women with pre-eclampsia and 30 normotensive, controls matche
d for age and gestation.
Results VEGF and PlGF serum levels were significantly lower in pre-eclampti
c pregnancies, compared with controls (VEGF 0.31 +/- 1.20 vs 18.30 +/- 24.9
7 pg/mL, P = 0.0004; PlGF 54.19 +/- 32.05 vs 497.95 +/- 340.51 pg/mL, P < 0
.0001). Matched couple analysis showed VEGF serum concentrations to be lowe
r in the majority of pre-eclamptic women and PlGF concentrations to be lowe
r in all pre-eclamptic women. Angiogenin serum levels showed no statistical
significant difference between pre-eclamptic pregnancies and controls (523
.68 +/- 367.55 vs 670.41 +/- 251.54 ng/mL, P = 0.058), with matched couple
analysis showing no clear pattern.
Conclusions Decreased serum levels of VEGF and PlGF characterise, and there
fore seem to be of importance during (the development of), pre-eclampsia. T
his selective deficit of angiogenic growth factors might in part explain th
e shallow placentation found in this pregnancy complication.