OBJECTIVE: We evaluated maternal and fetal plasma levels and placental mRNA expression of urocortin, a placental vasoactive neuropeptide, in singleton pregnancies (n = 70) complicated by hypertensive disorders classified as gestational hypertension (n = 36), pre-eclampsia (n = 19), and pre-eclampsia complicated by intrauterine growth restriction (PE/IUGR, n = 15), and in 70 healthy normotensive singleton pregnancies. METHODS: Plasma levels were assayed by radioimmunoassay, fetal biometry by ultrasound scans, utero-placental and fetal perfusion by Doppler velocimetry, and placental urocortin mRNA expression by quantitative real time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The main outcome measures were the correlation of urocortin concentrations with patterns of the utero-placental and fetal circulation, and the early prediction of a poor neonatal outcome such as the occurrence of perinatal death and intraventricular hemorrhage. RESULTS: Maternal and fetal urocortin levels were significantly (both P < 0.001) higher in gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia and PE/IUGR women than in controls, and correlated with Doppler velocimetry patterns. Fetal concentrations were significantly (P < 0.0001) higher than and significantly (P < 0.0001) correlated to maternal levels. Placental mRNA expression did not change. Ten out of 140 newborns had a poor neonatal outcome, with an overall prevalence of 7.14% (pretest probability). Using the receiver operator characteristics curve analysis cut-off values, the probability of a poor neonatal outcome was 66.7% when urocortin was used, and was 0% if levels were unaltered.

High maternal and fetal plasma urocortin levels in pregnancies complicated by hypertension

Gazzolo, Diego
;
2006-01-01

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated maternal and fetal plasma levels and placental mRNA expression of urocortin, a placental vasoactive neuropeptide, in singleton pregnancies (n = 70) complicated by hypertensive disorders classified as gestational hypertension (n = 36), pre-eclampsia (n = 19), and pre-eclampsia complicated by intrauterine growth restriction (PE/IUGR, n = 15), and in 70 healthy normotensive singleton pregnancies. METHODS: Plasma levels were assayed by radioimmunoassay, fetal biometry by ultrasound scans, utero-placental and fetal perfusion by Doppler velocimetry, and placental urocortin mRNA expression by quantitative real time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The main outcome measures were the correlation of urocortin concentrations with patterns of the utero-placental and fetal circulation, and the early prediction of a poor neonatal outcome such as the occurrence of perinatal death and intraventricular hemorrhage. RESULTS: Maternal and fetal urocortin levels were significantly (both P < 0.001) higher in gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia and PE/IUGR women than in controls, and correlated with Doppler velocimetry patterns. Fetal concentrations were significantly (P < 0.0001) higher than and significantly (P < 0.0001) correlated to maternal levels. Placental mRNA expression did not change. Ten out of 140 newborns had a poor neonatal outcome, with an overall prevalence of 7.14% (pretest probability). Using the receiver operator characteristics curve analysis cut-off values, the probability of a poor neonatal outcome was 66.7% when urocortin was used, and was 0% if levels were unaltered.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11564/688604
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