Inhibin A serum levels in proteinuric and nonproteinuric pregnancy-inducedhypertension: Evidence for placental involvement in gestational hypertension?

Objectives: To evaluate the serum levels of inhibin A in pregnant women wit h different types of hypertension. Methods: A case-control study, including 60 cases (20 women with preeclamps ia, 20 with mild gestational hypertension, and 20 with chronic hypertension ), and 60 gestational-age- and parity-matched controls. Inhibin A was measu red in duplicate by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in serum samples froz en at - 80 degreesC. Results: As compared to controls, inhibin A levels were significantly eleva ted in women with preeclampsia {2.32 standard deviation (SD) 1.4} versus 0. 50 (0.29) ng/mL, p < 0.001) and gestational hypertension [1.09 (0.73) versu s 0.55 (0.29) ng/mL, p < 0.05], but not in the group of chronic hypertensio n [0.88 (0.69) versus 0.54 (0.39) ng/mL, p = 0.08]. Overlap in inhibin A va lues between cases and controls was observed in 20% (4/20) of women with pr eeclampsia and 55% (11/20) with gestational hypertension. Conclusions: Increased serum inhibin A may indicate that a proportion of mi ld nonproteinuric hypertension cases are associated with placental involvem ent.