INCREASED LEVELS OF INTERCELLULAR-ADHESION MOLECULES AND VASCULAR CELL-ADHESION MOLECULES IN PREECLAMPSIA

Objective To investigate the correlation between soluble forms of the intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion m olecule (sVCAM-1) and the severity of pre-eclampsia or its possible co nsequences for fetal growth. Design Prospective observational study. S etting institute of Medical Genetics, University of Oslo, Department o f Medical Genetics and Haematological Research Laboratory, Ulleval Uni versity Hospital; and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Th e National Hospital, Oslo, Norway. Participants Seventy-six women with normotensive pregnancies and 157 women with pre-eclampsia divided int o three subgroups. mild, severe and pre-eclampsia with fetal growth re tardation. Methods ELISA-measurements of plasma sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 we re performed in a group of healthy pregnant nonnotensive women and thr ee groups of women with varying degrees of preeclampsia. Results sICAM -1 concentrations were higher in the pre-eclampsia group compared with the control group, but this difference was not statistically signific ant, Plasma concentrations of sVCAM-1 were significantly greater (P <0 .0001) in all pre-eclampsia subgroups (835.34, 855.25 and 964.05 ng/mL ) compared with the control group (667.62 ng/mL). Within the pre-eclam psia group, plasma concentration of sVCAM-1 was significantly higher i n the subgroup exhibiting fetal growth retardation (P=0.03) compared w ith mild pre-eclampsia. Conclusion The observed increases in plasma ca ncentrations of sVCAM-1 suggest that measurements of this adhesion mol ecule may be useful in monitoring pregnancies with respect to the deve lopment of pre-eclampsia or fetal with retardation.