Expression and significance of aquaporin-2 and serum hormones in placenta of patients with preeclampsia

To evaluate the relationship between serum hormone or aquaporin-2 (AQP-2) and preeclampsia, patients with severe preeclampsia (A group), mild preeclampsia (B group), chronic hypertension (C group) and normal pregnant women (D group) were recruited and analysed. The AQP-2 level in placenta tissues was detected and the correlations of AQP-2 with serum hormone levels were analysed using linear correlation regression analysis. The differences of alpha foetal protein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) levels during mid-pregnancy, as well as the levels of AFP, HCG, unconjugated oestriol and progesterone during late pregnancy were significant among A, B, C and D groups (p < .05). The AQP-2 level in placenta tissues was higher in A group than that in other groups (p < .05). The AQP-2 was correlated with HCG (p < .05). In conclusion, AQP-2 may be involved in the development of severe preeclampsia, which may be related to serum HCG.