Maternal Levels of Prostacyclin, Thromboxane, ICAM, and VCAM in Normal and Preeclamptic Pregnancies

Citation Lewis DF., Canzoneri BJ., Gu Y, Zhao S, Wang Y. Maternal Levels of Prostacyclin, Thromboxane, ICAM, and VCAM in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies. Am J Reprod Immunol 2010; 64: 376–383 Problem  To evaluate whether impaired endothelial function and endothelial inflammatory response occur in parallel in the women with preeclampsia. Method of Study  Venous blood was drawn from normal (n = 40) and severe preeclamptic (sPE) (n = 40) pregnant women when they were admitted to the L&D Unit and 24 hrs after delivery. Plasma and serum samples were extracted and measured for 6-keto PGF1α and TXB2 (stable metabolites of PGI2 and TXA2), and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM) and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM) by ELISA. Data are analyzed by Mann–Whitney test and paired t-test. The statistical significance is set as P < 0.05. Results  Plasma 6-keto PGF1α levels were significantly reduced at admission and 24 hr after delivery in sPE compared to normal pregnant controls, P < 0.01. The ratio of 6-keto PGF1α and TXB2 was significant less in sPE than that in normal pregnant controls before delivery. There was no significant difference for ICAM and VCAM levels between normal and patients with sPE before and after delivery. Conclusion  Maternal 6-keto PGF1α levels and the ratio of 6-keto PGF1α and TXB2 were decreased in patients with sPE compared to normal pregnant controls. In contrast, maternal ICAM and VCAM levels were not different between the two groups. These data suggest that serum ICAM and VCAM levels may not be sensitive inflammatory biomarkers for preeclampsia.