The levels and the relationships of vascular endothelial growth factor and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 in the preeclamptic pregnancies

ABSTRACTThe Levels And The Relationships Of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor And Soluble Fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase-1 In The Preeclamptic PregnanciesObjective:The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase?1 (sFlt?1) in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, so that we measured the plasma concentrations of free VEGF and sFlt?1 and determined their relationships.Materials And Methods: 60 pregnant women with preeclampsia, attending to the perinatology clinics of the gynecology and obstetrics department of the medicine faculty of Çukurova University between September 1st 2006 and September 1st 2007, were taken into the study. These preeclamptic patients were matched for gestational age with 60 normotensive pregnant women. VEGF and sFlt?1 concentrations were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) .Results: Preeclamptic patients demonstrated significantly lower plasma concentrations of free VEGF (3?11 pg/ml vs 9?24 pg/ml; p=0.002,<0.05) when compared to the normotensive pregnant women. However the plasma concentrations of sFlt?1 (4899?9962 pg/ml vs 900?3954 pg/ml; p=0.002,<0.05) were significantly higher in the patients with preeclampsia than normotensive pregnant women. There was a positive correlation between the plasma concentration of sFlt?1 and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. There was a negative correlation between the plasma concentation of free VEGF and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. There was a strong negative correlation between the plasma concentrations of free VEGF and sFlt?1.Conclusion: We found VEGF and sFlt?1 were related to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Although reduced concentrations of free VEGF and increased concentrations of sFlt-1 might interfere with endothelial cell function and survival, further studies are required to clarify their spesific roles in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.Key words:Vascular endothelial growth factor, preeclampsia, pregnancy,soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase?1