Procalacitonin and Endothelin -1 levels in preeclamptic and eclamptic patients

Objective: To compare the levels of procalcitonin (ProC) and endotelin -1 (ET -1) in preeclampsia, eclampsia and control group patients to evaluate their role in ethiopathogenesis.Materials and Methods: In this study 22 preeclamptic, 5 eclamptic and 22 healthy pregnant women who attended the clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Celal Bayar University Faculty of Medicine between 01/02/2009 and 01/10/2009 and who did not have metabolic problems, no fever above 38 oC, and no leucocytosis were included. Plasma ET -1 was evaluated by ELISA, ProC was evaluated by ELFA method. Umbilical artery doppler was performed at the beginning of labor in vaginal birth patients and just before the operation in cesarean section patients. After birth umbilical arterty blood pH and Apgar scores at minutes 1 and 5 were recorded. Procalcitonin values were compared to Apgar score at minute 1.Results: The levels of ProC was significantly higher in the preeclampsia and eclampsia groups when compared to the control group. There was no significant difference between groups for ET -1 levels. Apgar scores at minute 1 were lower in the eclampsia group compared to preeclampsia and control group and lower in the preeclampsia group compared to the control group. Apgar scores for minute 1 were not low in the group with high procalcitonin levels.Conclusion: The high levels of ProC in the preeclampsia and eclampsia group shows that an inflammatory process takes place in the ethiopathogenesis and ProC which is used in bacterial sepsis with high sensitivity and spesificity may be used as a marker for preeclampsia. Endotelin -1 has not increased in preeclampsia or eclampsia which points out that it has not an ethiologic but a supplementary role. A negative fetal outcome has been associated with high levels of procalcitonin.Key words: Preeclampsia, Eclampsia, Procalcitonin, Endothelin -1.