Comparison of clinical outcomes and biochemical markers in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies: a prospective cohort study

Niraj Vora; Ram R Kalagiri; Kushi Shetty; Yara Mustafa; Waverly Kundysek; Muppala Raju; Vinayak Govande; Madhava Beeram; Mohammad Nasir Uddin

doi:10.1080/08998280.2023.2223449

Comparison of clinical outcomes and biochemical markers in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies: a prospective cohort study

Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2023 Jun 22;36(5):572-577. doi: 10.1080/08998280.2023.2223449. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Niraj Vora¹, Ram R Kalagiri¹, Kushi Shetty², Yara Mustafa², Waverly Kundysek³, Muppala Raju¹, Vinayak Govande¹, Madhava Beeram¹, Mohammad Nasir Uddin^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Temple, Temple, Texas, USA.
² McNeil High School, Austin, Texas, USA.
³ Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine, College Station, Texas, USA.

Abstract

Background: Preeclampsia (PreE), the de novo onset of hypertension and proteinuria at 20 weeks of gestation, is a leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. This study compared inflammatory biomarkers in PreE and normal pregnancies using paired samples of mothers and neonates.

Methods: Twenty normal pregnant and 27 PreE patients were monitored for biomarkers, neonatal outcomes, and placental morphologies. Fetal and maternal serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), placental growth factor (PlGF), soluble endoglin (sENG), and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFLT-1) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: Placental thickness was 25 mm in early PreE subjects compared to 32 mm in late PreE subjects (P < 0.05). Placental volume was 296 cm³ in early PreE compared to 393 cm³ in late PreE (P < 0.05). The average hospital stay for PreE babies was longer (20 ± 5 days) compared to babies from normal pregnancies (2 ± 1 days; P < 0.05). PreE babies had a lower Ponderal index (2.28 ± 0.3) than those from normal pregnancies (2.95 ± 0.2; P < 0.05). sENG and sFLT-1 had cord values like the maternal values, while VEGF and PlGF did not.

Conclusion: PreE alters the intrauterine environment by activating chemical mediators that result in maternal and fetal complications.

Keywords: Angiogenic biomarkers; neonatal outcomes; placenta; preeclampsia.

Grants and funding

Funding for this work was provided by Scott, Sherwood and Brindley Foundation and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (MNU) and the Noble Centennial Endowment for Research in Obstetrics and Gynecology (TJK).