Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026
Iridium(III) Luminescent Probe for Detection of the Malarial Protein Biomarker Histidine Rich Protein-II
Published on: July 7, 2015
Histidine-rich glycoprotein as an early biomarker of preeclampsia
Marie Bolin1, Peter Akerud, Agneta Hansson
1Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Insights
Lower levels of Histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) during early pregnancy may predict preeclampsia. This study found significantly reduced HRG in women who later developed the condition, suggesting its potential as an early biomarker.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Reproductive Medicine
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Preeclampsia involves coagulation and angiogenic pathway dysfunction.
- Histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) interacts with these systems.
- Understanding HRG's role may aid preeclampsia prediction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare circulating HRG levels in pregnant women who develop preeclampsia versus healthy pregnancies.
- To evaluate HRG as a potential early biomarker for preeclampsia.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, longitudinal cohort study of 469 healthy pregnant women.
- Plasma samples collected at gestational weeks 10, 25, 28, 33, and 37.
- HRG levels analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Main Results:
- HRG levels decreased throughout pregnancy in all women.
- Significantly lower HRG levels were observed at gestational weeks 10, 25, and 28 in women who later developed preeclampsia (P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- Plasma HRG levels may serve as a predictive biomarker for preeclampsia.
- Early detection of preeclampsia may be possible as early as gestational week 10.
- HRG shows promise for identifying preeclampsia risk in low-risk populations.
Background:
Prediction of preeclampsia is of great interest and the coagulation system as well as the angiogenic pathway is known to be dysfunctional in preeclampsia. Histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) is a protein interacting with both these biological systems and the purpose of this prospective, longitudinal cohort study was to analyze whether there is a difference in circulating levels of HRG during pregnancy in women developing preeclampsia compared to normal healthy pregnancies. We furthermore wanted to evaluate whether HRG has the potential of being an early biomarker of preeclampsia.
Methods:
A cohort of healthy pregnant women (n = 469) was enrolled at gestational weeks 8-12. Plasma samples were collected at gestational weeks 10, 25, 28, 33, and 37 and analyzed with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results:
The levels of HRG decreased during pregnancy in all women, but the levels were significantly lower at gestational weeks 10, 25, and 28 in women who later developed preeclampsia than in normal pregnant women (P < 0.05, P < 0.05, and P < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Our data indicates that HRG levels in plasma might be a possible biomarker already in gestational week 10 for prediction of later onset of preeclampsia in a low risk population.
