Objectives: Evaluation of the ability of estimated serum levels of placental protein 13 (PP13) and soluble endoglin (sEng) at the 12th week gestational age (GA) for early prediction for development of pre-eclampsia (PE).
Patients & Methods: the study included 180 primigravida with singleton fetus and free of PE-risk factors. At the 12th week GA, all women underwent complete clinical examination and gave venous blood samples for ELISA estimation of baseline serum PP13 and sEng level. All women were followed-up 4-weekly till delivery for development of PE manifestations.
Results: Ninety women developed PE; 28 early and 62 late PE. Twenty-one had severe and 69 had mild PE. The remaining 90 women completed their pregnancy free of hypertensive manifestations (Control group). PE women were older and had higher body weight (BW) than controls. Baseline serum PP13 levels were significantly lower in PE than control women, in late than in early-onset PE and in severe than in mild PE. On contrary, estimated serum sEng were significantly higher in PE women especially those who developed late-onset and/or severe PE. Statistical analyses find high baseline serum sEng and BW as significant specific and low serum PP13 as significant sensitive predictors for development of PE, while baseline high serum sEng and low serum PP13 and old age as significant specific predictors for late-onset PE and high baseline DBP as significant specific predictor, but low serum PP13 as significant sensitive predictor for severe PE
Conclusion: Combined serum assay for PP13 and sEng early in pregnancy allowed prediction of development of PE and patients' stratification according to timing of development and its predicted severity.
Keywords: Pre-eclampsia, Placental Protein 13, Soluble Endoglin, PE severity prediction |
