sP-selectin in preeclamptic pregnancies with intrauterine normal growth and small-for-gestational-age foetus. Preliminary communication.

AIM: The aim of this study was the comparative analysis of the sP-selectin in pregnancies complicated by severe preeclampsia with intrauterine normal growth and small-for-gestational-age foetus.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

The study was carried out on 14 patients with preeclampsia complicated by intrauterine growth retardation (group PI) and 13 preeclamptic patients with appropriate-for-gestational-age weight infants (group P). The control group consisted of 13 healthy normotensive pregnant patients with singleton uncomplicated pregnancies (group C). Maternal serum soluble P-selectin concentrations were estimated using sandwich ELISA assay according to the manufacturer's instructions.

RESULTS

Pregnant women with severe preeclampsia had higher maternal serum sP-selectin levels than the normotensive controls. The sP-selectin levels were highest and statistically significant in preeclamptic patients with appropriate-for-gestational-age weight infants.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate an association between the increased levels of sP-selectin and severe preeclampsia. However, further studies are required to validate this association and explore the possibility of clinical importance and causative role of sP-selectin in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.