Maternal serum transforming growth factor beta-2 in preeclampsia and eclampsia, a potential biomarker for the assessment of disease severity and fetal outcome

OBJECTIVE: The emerging role of transforming growth factor beta in hyperten sion, kidney disease, and trophoblast differentiation promoted our interest in evaluating the clinical value of assaying maternal serum TGF-beta2 leve ls in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia and eclampsia. We wished to d etermined these levels in relation to the severity of the disease, the degr ee of renal involvement, and fetal outcome. METHODS: A prospective study was carried out in 50 pregnant patients with p reeclampsia (PE) and eclampsia and these women were compared to 20 pregnant normotensive controls. Preeclamptic patients were subdivided into 20 cases of mild PE, 20 cases of severe PE, and 10 cases of eclampsia. Maternal ser um levels of TGF-beta2 were determined in all cases by enzyme immunoassay. Maternal serum creatinine and uric acid were measured, together with an ass essment of fetal well being, using the Biophysical Profile Score. RESULTS: Maternal serum TGF-beta2 levels were significantly increased in ca ses of severe preeclampsia and eclampsia compared to controls. This increas e was positively correlated with elevated levels of serum creatinine and ur ic acid, as well as poor biophysical profile scores (BPS), and low birth we ight (LBW). CONCLUSION: Measurement of maternal serum TGF-beta2 levels in preeclampsia may be a useful biomarker for the assessment of the severity of disease and fetal outcome in PE. Copyright (C) 2001 by the Society for Gynecologic Inv estigation.