Angiogenin and vascular endothelial growth factor in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia

Objective: To investigate the role of the angiogenic factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiogenin in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia and how their concentrations correlate with the severity of the disease and fetal outcome. Patients and Methods: A prospective study was carried out on 71 pregnant patients with preeclampsia and 20 pregnant normotensive controls. Maternal serum levels of VEGF and angiogenin were determined in all cases by enzyme immunoassay. Assessment of fetal well-being using the Biophysical Profile Score (BPS), umbilical and uterine artery Doppler velocimetry, and infant birthweight were carried out. Results: Maternal serum VEGF and angiogenin levels were significantly increased in cases of mild and severe preeclampsia compared to controls. Their increase was positively correlated with elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as poor BPS, abnormal Doppler velocimetry, and tow birthweight. Conclusion: Elevated levels of both VEGF and angiogenin could confirm the existence of vascular reactivity and endothelial disturbance in preectampsia. Measurement of these angiogenic factors in maternal serum may be a useful as biomarkers for the assessment of the severity of the disease and of fetal outcome. (C) 2004 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.