Transforming growth factor beta(1) levels in platelet depleted plasma in African women with pre-eclampsia.

Recently it has been suggested that TGF-beta(1) may play an important role in trophoblast invasion of spiral arteries in pre-eclampsia. This study was designed to investigate TGF-beta(1) levels in pre-eclampsia. Platelet depleted plasma TGF-beta(1) levels were measured by ELISA in 43 normotensive healthy non-pregnant women, 30 normotensive healthy pregnant and 42 pre-eclamptic women: TGF-beta(1) levels were increased significantly in the pre-eclamptics (4.9+/-0.9 ng/ml) compared to the normotensive pregnant (1.9+/-0.54 ng/ml; P<0.001) and normotensive non-pregnant groups (2.1+/-0.41 ng/ml; P<0.0001). There was no significant difference in TGF-beta(1) levels between normotensive pregnant and non-pregnant groups (1.9+/-0.54 vs. 2.1+/-0.41 ng/ml; P=0.2). There was a highly significant correlation between neonatal weight (r=0.63; P<0.0001) and TGF-beta(1) levels. The finding of increased levels of plasma TGF-beta(1) suggests an aetiological role of this peptide in pre-eclampsia.