Anti-ssDNA and dsDNA antibodies in preeclampsia

The presence of anti-ssDNA and anti-dsDNA antibodies and their clinical significance in preeclampsia were studied. Serum samples were taken from 38 cases of preeclampsia including 19 severe cases, and from 26 normal pregnant women. Anti-ssDNA and anti-dsDNA antibodies were measured by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Only 1 of the 38 preeclampsia tested positively for the anti-dsDNA and none of 26 normal pregnant women showed positive results. Although 15 out of the 38 cases (39.4%) of preeclampsia tested positively the anti-ssDNA antibody, none of the 26 normal pregnant women showed positive results. Five of 19 (26.3%) mild preeclampsia cases tested positively. In severe cases, 10 of 19 (52.6%) tested positively. The frequency of the anti-ssDNA antibody is related to the severity of such symptoms as hypertension and proteinuria. However, we could not confirm that the presence of the anti-ssDNA antibody is related to the appearance of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) in preeclampsia. This study demonstrated a high incidence of autoantibodies, such as the anti-ssDNA antibody, in preeclampsia, and indicates a close relationship between this antibody and the severity of preeclamptic symptom. We concluded that the autoantibodies, such as the anti-DNA antibody, might be produced in preeclampsia, and that the abnormal B-cell activation might occur in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia.