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Association between serum placental growth factor and vascular endothelial function in hyprtensive disorders
Weiling Li1, Shasha Liu1, Yuan Li1
1Department of General Internal Medicine, Shijiazhuang Fourth Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province 050031, China.
Insights
Low placental growth factor levels are linked to impaired vascular endothelial function in women with hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy (HDCP). This finding may improve prediction of pregnancy hypertension.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Background:
- Hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy (HDCP) pose significant risks to maternal and fetal health.
- Early prediction and prevention strategies for HDCP are crucial for improving pregnancy outcomes.
- Vascular endothelial dysfunction is implicated in the pathophysiology of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between serum placental growth factor and vascular endothelial function in women with gestational hypertension.
- To determine if placental growth factor levels can serve as a predictive marker for hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving 200 pregnant women, divided into HDCP and normal pregnancy control groups.
- Measurement of serum placental growth factor, plasma endothelin-1, and nitric oxide levels.
- Assessment of endothelial function using echo tracking technique, measuring parameters like pressure-strain elasticity coefficient (EP), stiffness index (β), arterial compliance, pulsed-wave velocity, and augment index (AI).
Main Results:
- Significantly lower serum placental growth factor levels were observed in the HDCP group compared to controls.
- The HDCP group exhibited increased endothelin-1 and decreased nitric oxide levels.
- Impaired endothelial function was indicated by higher EP, β, pulsed-wave velocity, and AI, and decreased arterial compliance in the HDCP group.
Conclusions:
- Serum placental growth factor is associated with impaired vascular endothelial function in women with hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy.
- Placental growth factor may serve as a valuable predictive factor for gestational hypertension.
- Further research into placental growth factor's role could lead to improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for HDCP.
Abstract:
Hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy (HDCP) is a systemic disease among pregnant women. Therefore, the prevention and prediction of hypertension during pregnancy are critical. This study aimed to clarify whether the vascular endothelial function of women with gestational hypertension was linked to placental growth factor. A total of 200 pregnant women were enrolled in our study and subsequently divided into two groups: the HDCP group and the normal pregnancy controls. The levels of serum placental growth factor, as well as plasma endothelin-1 and nitric oxide, between the two groups were measured. In addition, the endothelial function indexes, including pressure-strain elasticity coefficient (EP), the common carotid stiffness index (β), arterial compliance, single-point pulsed-wave velocity, and augment index (AI) of bilateral common carotid arteries, were compared between the HDCP and control groups using the echo tracking technique. In our study, the level of placental growth factor in the HDCP group was significantly lower than the control group. Furthermore, our results clarified that endothelin-1 increased while nitric oxide decreased in the HDCP group compared with the control group. On the other hand, we found that EP, β, pulsed-wave velocity and augment index values were significantly higher in the HDCP group than in the control group (P < 0.001). However, the value of arterial compliance was significantly decreased in patients of the HDCP group compared with the control group (P < 0.001). In conclusion, the association between serum placental growth factor and vascular endothelial function in HDCP could serve as a more accurate predictive factor of pregnant hypertension.
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