Increased plasma soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 and endoglin levels in pregnancies complicated with preeclampsia

Background. Increased maternal plasma levels of proinflammatory cytokines as well as the anti-angiogenic agents soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) and endoglin (sEng) are associated with promoting vascular dysfunction leading to the maternal syndrome of preeclampsia.Objective and method. Nulliparous women complicated with preeclampsia (n = 29) and their corresponding controls (n = 29) delivering at the Enrique C. Sotomayor Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Guayaquil-Ecuador were requested to participate in a study evaluating plasma levels of soluble anti-angiogenic factors (sFlt-1 and sEng) and pro-inflammatory cytokines: interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 8 (IL-8), granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Maternal and neonatal data were also assessed and compared among the study groups.Results. No significant differences in either maternal baseline or delivery characteristics were observed among the study groups. Compared with controls, preeclampti...