Association of elevated serum heat-shock protein 70 concentration with transient hypertension of pregnancy, preeclampsia and superimposed preeclampsia:: a case-control study

Our aim was to investigate the association between serum heat-shock protein (Hsp) 70 concentration and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. One hundred and forty-two pregnant women with hypertensive disorders ( 93 with preeclampsia, 29 with transient hypertension of pregnancy and 20 with superimposed preeclampsia) and 127 normotensive, healthy pregnant women were included in the study. Serum Hsp70 concentration was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The serum Hsp70 concentration was significantly higher in patients with transient hypertension of pregnancy, in preeclamptic patients and in patients with superimposed preeclampsia than in the control group ( median ( 25 - 75 percentile): 0.66 (0.52 - 0.84), 0.55 (0.42 - 0.80), 0.61 ( 0.42 - 0.91) ng/ml vs 0.31 (0.27 - 0.39) ng/ml, respectively; P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed independent association of elevated serum Hsp70 level with transient hypertension of pregnancy, preeclampsia and superimposed preeclampsia.