Transcriptome analysis of placentae reveals HELLP syndrome exhibits a greater extent of placental metabolic dysfunction than preeclampsia.

Objective

The association between HELLP syndrome and preeclampsia has been investigated with conflicting conclusions. This study is to investigate the pathogenesis underlying these two diseases by analyzing placental transcriptome.

Methods

The gene expression profile downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus database was analyzed by R language.

Results

A total of 573 differentially expressed genes in HELLP syndrome and 358 in preeclampsia were identified, among which 295 were unique to HELLP syndrome. Some metabolism-associated pathways were uniquely enriched in HELLP syndrome.

Conclusions

HELLP syndrome exhibits a greater extent of placental metabolic dysfunction than preeclampsia, although these two diseases might share partial pathogenesis.