CONTEXT: The antiangiogenic growth factor angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) antagonizes, whereas angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) activates the endothelial cell-specific tyrosine kinase receptor-2 (Tie-2). In preeclampsia, circulating concentrations of Ang-1 are increased and those of Ang-2 and Tie-2 are decreased. OBJECTIVE: We wanted to study whether maternal serum concentrations of Ang-1, Ang-2, and Tie-2 are altered at gestational wk 12-15 or 16-20 in women with subsequent preeclampsia or intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). DESIGN: This was a case-control study. SETTING: The study was conducted in Helsinki University Central Hospital, a tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: This study comprised 124 pregnant women, of whom 49 developed preeclampsia and 16 gave birth to infants with IUGR, and 59 healthy women served as controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum concentrations of Ang-1, Ang-2, and Tie-2 were assessed by ELISA. Data were combined with our earlier data on soluble VEGF receptor (sVEGFR)-1. RESULTS: At gestational wk 12-15, the median concentrations of Ang-1, Ang-2, or Tie-2 were all similar between the study groups. At 16-20 wk, Ang-2 concentrations were higher in women with subsequent preeclampsia [25.0 ng/ml, 19.3-39.5 ng/ml; median, interquartile range (IQR)] than in the controls (17.7 ng/ml, 10.8-27.4 ng/ml, P = 0.006). The odds ratio of high Ang-2 concentrations for subsequent preeclampsia was 4.2 (95% confidence interval 1.4-12.6; P = 0.011) and high Ang-2 combined with high sVEGFR-1, 6.4 (95% confidence interval 2.2-18.7; P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Maternal serum Ang-2 concentrations are increased prior to preeclampsia. High concentrations of both Ang-2 and sVEGFR-1 indicate subsequent disease.
CONTEXT: The antiangiogenic growth factor angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) antagonizes, whereas angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) activates the endothelial cell-specific tyrosine kinase receptor-2 (Tie-2). In preeclampsia, circulating concentrations of Ang-1 are increased and those of Ang-2 and Tie-2 are decreased. OBJECTIVE: We wanted to study whether maternal serum concentrations of Ang-1, Ang-2, and Tie-2 are altered at gestational wk 12-15 or 16-20 in women with subsequent preeclampsia or intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). DESIGN: This was a case-control study. SETTING: The study was conducted in Helsinki University Central Hospital, a tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: This study comprised 124 pregnant women, of whom 49 developed preeclampsia and 16 gave birth to infants with IUGR, and 59 healthy women served as controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum concentrations of Ang-1, Ang-2, and Tie-2 were assessed by ELISA. Data were combined with our earlier data on soluble VEGF receptor (sVEGFR)-1. RESULTS: At gestational wk 12-15, the median concentrations of Ang-1, Ang-2, or Tie-2 were all similar between the study groups. At 16-20 wk, Ang-2 concentrations were higher in women with subsequent preeclampsia [25.0 ng/ml, 19.3-39.5 ng/ml; median, interquartile range (IQR)] than in the controls (17.7 ng/ml, 10.8-27.4 ng/ml, P = 0.006). The odds ratio of high Ang-2 concentrations for subsequent preeclampsia was 4.2 (95% confidence interval 1.4-12.6; P = 0.011) and high Ang-2 combined with high sVEGFR-1, 6.4 (95% confidence interval 2.2-18.7; P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Maternal serum Ang-2 concentrations are increased prior to preeclampsia. High concentrations of both Ang-2 and sVEGFR-1 indicate subsequent disease.
Authors: Christian Clajus; Alexander Lukasz; Sascha David; Barbara Hertel; Ralf Lichtinghagen; Samir M Parikh; André Simon; Issam Ismail; Hermann Haller; Philipp Kümpers Journal: Cytokine Date: 2012-07-06 Impact factor: 3.861