Evaluation of VEGF in placental bed biopsies from preeclamptic women by immunohistochemistry.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to determine VEGF protein with immunohistochemical staining in placental bed biopsies of preeclamptic pregnancies in comparison to normal controls.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

METHODS

The placental bed biopsies were obtained from 12 patients with preeclapmsia and ten patients for a control group at the time of cesarean delivery. Tissue samples of the placental bed were examined for VEGF protein distribution with avidin-biotin-peroxidase immunohistochemistry. Two blinded histopathologists were asked to score each sample for the intensity of staining and the number of cells stained in a randomly selected HPF of each sample. The resulting "H-score" was computed as a product of intensity and percent of cells stained.

RESULTS

VEGF expression was significantly lower in both the myometrium and stroma of the preeclamptic group compared to the control group (77.2 +/- 25.4 vs 134 +/- 44.3, p = 0.007; 194.1 +/- 20.7 vs 170.2 +/- 17, p = 0.017, respectively).

CONCLUSION

VEGF expression is significantly lower in placental bed biopsies of preeclamptic pregnancies.