Evaluation of plasma endothelial microparticles in pre-eclampsia

Abstract

Objective: To compare the antepartum and postpartum plasma concentrations of endothelial microparticles (EMPs) in patients with pre-eclampsia with those of healthy control subjects with normal pregnancies.

Methods: Plasma concentrations of EMPs were measured using specific antibody labelling and flow cytometry prior to delivery by caesarean section (antepartum), and again at 24 h and 72 h postpartum. The correlations between EMP concentration and mean arterial pressure (MAP), and between EMP concentration and 24-h urine protein were analysed.

Results: A total of 59 patients with pre-eclampsia and 60 healthy control subjects participated in the study. The antepartum plasma EMP concentration was significantly higher in patients with pre-eclampsia than in healthy control subjects with normal pregnancies (2863.5 ± 1543.1 versus 1703.0 ± 592.2 EMPs/ml, respectively); similar findings were observed at 24 h postpartum (1836.7 ± 1153.8 versus 1421.8 ± 760.2 EMPs/ml, respectively). There was no significant difference between the two groups at 72 h postpartum. The antepartum plasma EMP concentration in patients with pre-eclampsia demonstrated a significant positive correlation with MAP (r = 0.716) and with 24-h urine protein (r = 0.770).

Conclusion: Plasma EMP concentration might serve as a biomarker to evaluate the severity of pre-eclampsia in the future.

Keywords: Endothelial microparticles; endothelial injury; flow cytometric analysis; pre-eclampsia.