Preeclampsia with and without intrauterine growth restriction–Two pathogenetically different entities?

The interval between the onset of increased blood pressure and proteinuria in preeclampsia and the contributing factors

PURPOSE

New-onset proteinuria, as a pivotal sign of representative renal lesions in preeclampsia, is still the most common diagnostic tool for this condition and has been proven to be related to a significantly abnormal sFlt-1/VEGF ratio in circulation. At the same time, blood pressure control plays a vital role in the occurrence and evolution of proteinuria. Therefore, it is particularly helpful to investigate their interval, not only for performing urinalysis for protein more accurately but also for evaluating blood pressure as well as the aggravation of illness, as the related research is limited.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 515 preeclampsia patients and 358 normotensive pregnant women who labored in the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University from January 2016 to January 2020. First, we described the onset circumstance of high blood pressure and proteinuria as well as the interval among the case group and the subgroups. Then, we determined whether there were significant differences in the basic information, laboratory test results, and newborns between the case and normal groups. Finally, multifactor ANOVA was used to determine the factors influencing the interval.

RESULTS

1. The two most common complications in preeclampsia were proteinuria (88.35%) and placental dysfunction (5.05%). Moreover, 72.04% of preeclampsia cases were diagnosed by abnormal blood pressure together with new-onset proteinuria. 2. The average interval between high blood pressure and proteinuria was 22 gestational days (from 0 to 106 days), and this interval was not significantly different between mild and severe PE (26 days vs. 21 days, P > 0.05) but significantly differed between early-onset and late-onset PE (9 days vs. 28 days, P < 0.05). 3. The number of prenatal visits, serum creatinine in the early trimester, gestational time and diastolic blood pressure value when increased blood pressure was initially detected may influence the interval between the onset of increased blood pressure and proteinuria.

CONCLUSION

New-onset proteinuria was still the main parameter for identifying preeclampsia. The interval between increased blood pressure and proteinuria was probably related to the imbalance in the sFlt-1/VEGF ratio; therefore, we should pay attention to monitor proteinuria during the prenatal visits, especially for patients with a lower frequency of prenatal visits, higher serum creatinine in the early trimester, earlier onset and higher diastolic blood pressure at the initial onset of increased blood pressure.

Association of prothrombin time, thrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time levels with preeclampsia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Preeclampsia (PE), an obstetric disorder, remains one of the leading causes of maternal and infant mortality worldwide. In individuals with PE, the coagulation-fibrinolytic system is believed to be among the most significantly impacted systems due to maternal inflammatory responses and immune dysfunction. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the association of prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) levels with preeclampsia.

METHODS

This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Articles relevant to the study, published from July 26, 2013, to July 26, 2023, were systematically searched across various databases including PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Hinari. The methodological quality of the articles was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist. Utilizing Stata version 14.0, a random-effects model was employed to estimate the pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) along with the respective 95% CIs. The I2 statistics and Cochrane Q test were utilized to assess heterogeneity, while subgroup analyses were performed to explore its sources. Furthermore, Egger's regression test and funnel plot were employed to assess publication bias among the included studies.

RESULTS

A total of 30 articles, involving 5,964 individuals (2,883 with PE and 3,081 as normotensive pregnant mothers), were included in this study. The overall pooled SMD for PT, APTT, and TT between PE and normotensive pregnant mothers were 0.97 (95% CI: 0.65-1.29, p < 0.001), 1.05 (95% CI: 0.74-1.36, p < 0.001), and 0.30 (95% CI: -0.08-0.69, p = 0.11), respectively. The pooled SMD indicates a significant increase in PT and APTT levels among PE patients compared to normotensive pregnant mothers, while the increase in TT levels among PE patients was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

The meta-analysis underscores the association between PE and prolonged PT and APTT. This suggests that evaluating coagulation parameters like PT, APTT, and TT in pregnant women could offer easily accessible and cost-effective clinical indicators for assessing PE. However, multicenter longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate their effectiveness across various gestational weeks of pregnancy.

Prognostic value of systemic immune-inflammation index in the diagnosis of preeclampsia

Background

Preeclampsia is a serious complication of pregnancy with negative consequences for the mother and fetus. It was aimed to investigate whether the systemic immune inflammation index is a parameter that will facilitate the diagnosis of preeclampsia.

Methods

This retrospective and single-center study included patients diagnosed with preeclampsia after admission to the emergency department and those who met the inclusion criteria. Vital parameters, demographic data, medical history, white blood cell count, platelet count, neutrophil count, systemic immune-inflammation index values, biochemical parameters, and gestational weeks were analyzed in each patient.

Results

A total of 40 patients with preeclampsia (preeclampsia group) and 40 normal pregnant women (control group) were included. Laboratory tests revealed that the mean WBC, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts were significantly higher in the preeclampsia group than in the control group, whereas the preeclampsia group had a significantly lower mean platelet count than the control group (p < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity for the cut-off value of 758.39 × 109/L systemic immune-inflammation index in pregnant patients with preeclampsia was 77.5% and 67.5%, respectively (AUC: 0.705; 95% CI: 0.587-0.823; p = 0.002). No significant difference was observed between the mean neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in preeclampsia diagnosis.

Conclusion

The systemic immune-inflammation index may be used as a marker to help in establishing the diagnosis of preeclampsia. We believe that this index is an important prognostic indicator because it concurrently evaluates neutrophil and lymphocyte values-which indicate the inflammation process-and platelet count, i.e., an indicator of coagulopathy.

Angiogenic growth factors, oxidative stress and haematobiochemical measures as predictors of preeclampsia with and without foetal growth restriction: A case-control study in a Ghanaian population

INTRODUCTION

This study compares the angiogenic growth mediators (AGMs), oxidative stress (OS) and haematobiochemical profile as well as foeto-maternal outcomes of preeclampsia (PE) with and without foetal growth restriction (FGR) and the discriminative potential of these markers for identifying these conditions.

METHODS

This hospital-based case-control study recruited a total of 209 women including 109 PE women without FGR and 48 PE women with FGR as cases whereas 52 normotensive pregnant women were recruited as controls. OS and AGMs and haematobiochemical markers were measured for all participants.

RESULTS

The rates of foetal complications including intrauterine foetal death and foetal distress were more common in PE with FGR than PE without FGR (p < 0.05) but maternal complications were comparable across these groups (p > 0.05). Of the haematobiochemical markers, placental growth factors (PIGF), PIGF/8-Isoprostane, sFlt-1/PIGF (AUC = 0.87, p < 0.001), soluble FMS-tyrosine kinase receptor-1 (sFlt-1) (AUC = 0.85, p < 0.001), total antioxidant capacity, 8-isoprostane (AUC = 0.83, p < 0.001) and lactate dehydrogenase (AUC = 0.70, p < 0.001) were more associated and showed at least an acceptable discrimination for PE with FGR against PE only.

DISCUSSION

The occurrence of FGR in PE patients does not necessarily indicate a severe maternal presentation of the condition but a tendency for adverse foetal outcomes. Cumulative assessment of OS and AGMs may provide diagnostic usefulness for distinguishing PE with and without FGR.

The significance of mitochondrial haplogroups in preeclampsia risk

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether mitochondrial haplogroups function as disease-modifiers or as susceptibility factors in preeclampsia using a traditional haplogroup association model.

METHODS

This retrospective study haplotyped 235 control and 78 preeclamptic pregnancies from Denmark using either real-time PCR or Sanger sequencing depending on the rarity of the haplogroup.

RESULTS

No significant association between haplogroups and the risk of preeclampsia was found, nor was any role for haplogroups in disease severity uncovered.

CONCLUSION

Mitochondrial haplogroups are not associated with preeclampsia or the severity of preeclampsia in the Danish population. However, this study cannot exclude a role for less common mtDNA variation. Models that can examine these should be applied in preeclamptic patients.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a predictive index for liver and coagulation dysfunction in preeclampsia patients

BACKGROUND

Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy disorder that is related to an enhanced immune response. Immune cell characteristics such as neutrophil or monocyte to lymphocyte ratios (NLR, MLR) are known to be related to kidney and liver dysfunction in hypertensive patients. Here, we aimed to analyze the correlations between NLR, MLR and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and liver, renal and coagulation functional parameters and the impacts of these immune cell profiles to the prognostic significance in PE patients.

METHODS

Pre-delivery hematological and biochemical parameters of 320 first-time pregnant women registered at the Obstetrics Department of Yanbian University Hospital from 2016 to 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were divided into normal pregnancy (normal, n = 161), mild PE (mPE, n = 28) and severe PE (sPE, n = 131) groups according to diagnostic criteria. Pearson correlation analysis were performed and area under the curve (AUC) were conducted for the diagnostic values of NLR, MLR and PLR. Results were validated with data from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH).

RESULTS

Kidney functional indexes were adversative in mPE and sPE and liver and coagulation indexes were worse in sPE compared to normal groups. Among immune cells, lymphocytes were increased in mPE and sPE patients, resulted in reduced NLR, MLR and PLR in PE groups, more significant difference were shown in sPE. NLR and PLR were associated with CREA and/or BUN negatively and positive associations were observed with total protein (TP) and albumin (ALB) in sPE. Only NLR showed positive associations with coagulation indexes (PT and APTT) in sPE. AUC analysis for NLR, MLR and PLR were 0.700, 0.656, 0.643, respectively, and NLR < 3.7 predicted hypertension (95% CI in all participants: 0.647-0.749, p < 0.001). Blood pressure, liver, kidney and coagulation indexes were worse at cut off value (NLR < 3.7), and this was validated with the data from SNUH.

CONCLUSION

NLR could be used as an independent predictor of liver and coagulation dysfunction in PE patients. Our results may provide non-invasive and efficient way of the risk assessment among PE patients.

Human chorionic gonadotropin promotes murine Treg cells and restricts pregnancy-harmful proinflammatory Th17 responses

An equilibrium between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory immune responses is essential for maternal tolerance of the fetus throughout gestation. To study the participation of fetal tissue-derived factors in this delicate immune balance, we analyzed the effects of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on murine Treg cells and Th17 cells in vitro, and on pregnancy outcomes, fetal and placental growth, blood flow velocities and remodeling of the uterine vascular bed in vivo. Compared with untreated CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells, hCG increased the frequency of Treg cells upon activation of the LH/CG receptor. hCG, with the involvement of IL-2, also interfered with induced differentiation of CD4⁺ T cells into proinflammatory Th17 cells. In already differentiated Th17 cells, hCG induced an anti-inflammatory profile. Transfer of proinflammatory Th17 cells into healthy pregnant mice promoted fetal rejection, impaired fetal growth and resulted in insufficient remodeling of uterine spiral arteries, and abnormal flow velocities. Our works show that proinflammatory Th17 cells have a negative influence on pregnancy that can be partly avoided by in vitro re-programming of proinflammatory Th17 cells with hCG.

The association between decidual vasculopathy and abnormal uterine artery Doppler measurement

INTRODUCTION

Placental syndrome is an umbrella term encompassing the clinical phenotypes of preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction, and is associated with high maternal and neonatal morbidity. In women with placental syndrome, histologicl examination of the uteroplacental unit commonly demonstrates pathological lesions, such as decidual vasculopathy. Decidual vasculopathy are pathological changes in the spiral arteries, which are associated with adverse outcome in preeclampsia and long-term maternal cardiovascular health. The relation between placental syndrome phenotypes and placental pathology has been previously demonstrated; however, the role of uteroplacental Doppler measurements as a link between placental syndrome phenotypes and the underlying placental pathology is still unclear. We hypothesized that decidual vasculopathy is associated with abnormal uteroplacental Doppler profiles and ultrasound placental parameters, independent of clinical phenotype.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of data from a prospective cohort of pregnancies with placental syndrome, as well as cases without hypertensive disease or fetal growth restriction. The study group was divided into women with decidual vasculopathy on histologic analysis of placental specimen and those without the lesions. Outcome parameters included maternal and fetal Dopplers, estimated fetal weight, placental weight and thickness, placental lacunae and abnormal placental calcification.

RESULTS

Compared with the women without the lesions (n = 91), the group with decidual vasculopathy (n = 25) had a higher mean uterine artery pulsatility index (1.70 vs 0.81, p < 0.001) and uterine artery pulsatility index percentile (>p99 vs p67, p < 0.001). Decidual vasculopathy was associated with abnormal uterine artery Doppler profile (defined as pulsatility index p > 95 and/or bilateral notch) (82%) compared with women without the lesions (33%) (odds ratio [OR] 9.3, 95% CI 2.4-36.0), which remained significant after adjusting for possible confounding factors preeclampsia, tobacco use and gestational age at birth (OR 7.1, 95% CI 1.3-39.1). Decidual vasculopathy was not associated with fetal Doppler abnormalities or placental parameters and only modestly so with lower cerebroplacental ratio (p = 0.036).

CONCLUSIONS

Histologic decidual vasculopathy is associated with abnormal uterine artery Doppler, independent of clinical phenotype during pregnancy.

Acute Atherosis Lesions at the Fetal-Maternal Border: Current Knowledge and Implications for Maternal Cardiovascular Health

Decidua basalis, the endometrium of pregnancy, is an important interface between maternal and fetal tissues, made up of both maternal and fetal cells. Acute atherosis is a uteroplacental spiral artery lesion. These patchy arterial wall lesions containing foam cells are predominantly found in the decidua basalis, at the tips of the maternal arteries, where they feed into the placental intervillous space. Acute atherosis is prevalent in preeclampsia and other obstetric syndromes such as fetal growth restriction. Causal factors and effects of acute atherosis remain uncertain. This is in part because decidua basalis is challenging to sample systematically and in large amounts following delivery. We summarize our decidua basalis vacuum suction method, which facilitates tissue-based studies of acute atherosis. We also describe our evidence-based research definition of acute atherosis. Here, we comprehensively review the existing literature on acute atherosis, its underlying mechanisms and possible short- and long-term effects. We propose that multiple pathways leading to decidual vascular inflammation may promote acute atherosis formation, with or without poor spiral artery remodeling and/or preeclampsia. These include maternal alloreactivity, ischemia-reperfusion injury, preexisting systemic inflammation, and microbial infection. The concept of acute atherosis as an inflammatory lesion is not novel. The lesions themselves have an inflammatory phenotype and resemble other arterial lesions of more extensively studied etiology. We discuss findings of concurrently dysregulated proteins involved in immune regulation and cardiovascular function in women with acute atherosis. We also propose a novel hypothesis linking cellular fetal microchimerism, which is prevalent in women with preeclampsia, with acute atherosis in pregnancy and future cardiovascular and neurovascular disease. Finally, women with a history of preeclampsia have an increased risk of premature cardiovascular disease. We review whether presence of acute atherosis may identify women at especially high risk for premature cardiovascular disease.

Pathogenesis of uteroplacental acute atherosis: An update on current research

Uteroplacental acute atherosis is a type of arterial vascular disease that affects the placenta during pregnancy and predominates in the maternal spiral arteries in the decidua basalis layer of the pregnant uterus. This condition is characterized by fibrin-like necrosis of the blood vessel walls, the accumulation of macrophages containing fat (foam cells), and the infiltration of macrophages around blood vessels. Uteroplacental acute atherosis is rare in normal pregnancy but occurs more frequently in patients with pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia, spontaneous preterm labor, preterm prelabor rupture of membranes, mid-trimester spontaneous abortion, fetal death, and small-for-gestational age. It is believed that the mechanisms underlying the development of uteroplacental acute atherosis are related to the incomplete physiological transformation of spiral arteries, placental inflammation, abnormal lipid metabolism, and oxidative stress. In this review, we describe the pathogenesis of uteroplacental acute atherosis to provide reference guidelines for the future prevention and treatment of uteroplacental acute atherosclerotic disease.

Higher gestational weight gain and lower serum estradiol levels are associated with increased risk of preeclampsia after in vitro fertilization

PURPOSE

To assess the association of preeclampsia with serum estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) levels on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) for in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI).

METHODS

This was a hospital-based cohort study using clinical data from the Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Obstetric and Neonatal Database (KCGMHOND) from Jan 1, 2001 to December 1, 2018.

RESULTS

A total of 622 women who had live births after fresh IVF/ICSI-ET during the study period met our inclusion criteria. Twenty-eight women (4.5%) met the diagnostic criteria for preeclampsia. However, women in the preeclampsia group had a significantly higher body weight at delivery (80.5 vs. 70.0 kg, p < 0.001) and gestational weight gain (19.6 vs. 13.0 kg, p = 0.002) and had lower use of ICSI (10.7% vs. 29.9%, p = 0.021). We performed logistic regression analysis of the relationship of patient and treatment characteristics with preeclampsia. The crude ORs indicated that young female age ≤ 34, not using ICSI, E2 on hCG day < 1200 pg/mL and gestational weight gain > 20 kg were associated with preeclampsia. After adjustment for confounding, the only factors that remained significant were E2 on hCG day < 1200 pg/mL (aOR = 4.634, 95% CI = 1.061-20.222), and gestational weight gain > 20 kg (aOR: 13.601, 95% CI: 3.784, 48.880).

CONCLUSIONS

For women receiving IVF/ICSI, lower estradiol hormone levels on the day of hCG administration and higher pregnancy weight gain are related with subsequent preeclampsia.

Potential pathophysiological role of microRNA 193b-5p in human placentae from pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction

Preeclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) are pregnancy complications resulting from abnormal placental development. MicroRNAs can regulate placental development and contribute to disease, by influencing gene expression. Our previous study revealed an increase in miR-193b-5p expression in placentae from patients with early-onset pregnancy complications and identified candidate gene targets for miR-193b-5p. The purpose of this study is two-fold, first to validate candidate gene targets predicted for miR-193b-5p from microRNA-RNA expression data. Second, to overexpress miR-193b-5p in a trophoblast cell line (HTR-8/SVneo) to assess impact on trophoblast cell proliferation and migration. Integration of the miRNA and RNA sequencing expression data revealed 10 candidate gene targets for miR-193b-5p across all patient groups (PE only, IUGR only, PE + IUGR). Luciferase experiments identified two gene targets for miR-193b-5p, APLN and FGF13. Real-time PCR confirmed a median 45% decrease of FGF13 expression across 3 patient groups, and 50% decrease of APLN expression in patients with PE + IUGR. Following transfection of HTR-8/SVneo cells with miR-193b-5p mimics, APLN and FGF13 mRNA expression in HTR-8/SVneo was reduced by a median percentage of 30% and 45%, respectively. Concomitantly, HTR-8/SVneo cells demonstrate 40% reduction in cell migration. APLN and FGF13 immunoreactivity was identified strongly in the cytotrophoblast cells of the human placentae. These findings suggest that miR-193b-5p may contribute to trophoblast dysfunction observed in pregnancy complications such as PE and IUGR.

Maternal total cell-free DNA in preeclampsia with and without intrauterine growth restriction

Elevation of total cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in patients with preeclampsia is well-known; however, whether this change precedes the onset of symptoms remains inconclusive. Here, we conducted a nested case-control study to determine the elevation of cfDNA levels in women who subsequently developed preeclampsia. Methylated HYP2 (m-HYP2) levels were determined in 68 blood samples collected from women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, along with 136 control samples, using real-time quantitative PCR. The measured m-HYP2 levels were converted to multiples of the median (MoM) values for correction of maternal characteristics. The m-HYP2 levels and MoM values in patients with preeclampsia were significantly higher than in controls during the third trimester (P < 0.001, both), whereas those for women who subsequently developed preeclampsia did not differ during the second trimester. However, when patients with preeclampsia were divided based on the onset-time of preeclampsia or 10th percentile birth weight, both values were significantly higher in women who subsequently developed early-onset preeclampsia (P < 0.05, both) and preeclampsia with small-for-gestational-age (SGA) neonate (P < 0.01, both) than controls. These results suggested that total cfDNA levels could be used to predict early-onset preeclampsia or preeclampsia with SGA neonate.

Placental abnormalities differ in small for gestational age neonates in relation to their prenatal sonographic abdominal circumference measurements

Background: Antenatal detection of abdominal circumference (AC) <10th percentile, among small for gestational age (SGA) neonates, probably reflects the severity of their growth restriction. We aimed to study neonatal outcome and placental pathology among SGA neonates in correlation to their AC measurements.Methods: Maternal and neonatal computerized medical records and placental histopathology reports of all SGA neonates, (neonatal birth-weight ≤10th percentile), born between 24 and 42 weeks, during 2015-2018 were reviewed. Included cases with fetal biometric measurements conducted up to 7 days prior labor. Results were compared between cases with sonographic antenatal AC <10th percentile and neonates with sonographic antenatal AC ≥10th percentile. Placental lesions were classified according to "Amsterdam" Placental workshop criteria.Results: The AC <10th percentile group (n = 148) was characterized by higher rate of nulliparity (p = .003), and induction of labor (p = .009), as compared to the AC ≥10th percentile group (n = 41). There were no between groups differences in the rate of maternal BMI (kg/m²), hypertensive disorders, diabetes or smoking. Neonatal hypoglycemia was more common in the AC <10th percentile group as compared to the AC ≥10th percentile group (p = .04). Placentas from the AC <10th percentile group were smaller (p < .001), with more MVM lesions (p = .02) and chronic villitis (p = .04). By multivariate regression analysis, AC <10th percentile and maternal hypertensive disorders, were found to be independently associated with placental MVM lesions, aOR = 2.43 (95% CI 1.04, 5.88) and aOR = 3.15 (95% CI 1.06, 9.31), respectively.Conclusions: Higher rate of placental maternal malperfusion lesions, chronic villitis, and more neonatal hypoglycemia characterize SGA neonates with AC <10th percentile, pointing to the importance of AC measurement as an indicator for placental insufficiency.

Identification of miR-210-5p in human placentae from pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction, and its potential role in the pregnancy complications

Preeclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) are pregnancy complications resulting from abnormal placental development. As epigenetic regulators, microRNAs can regulate placental development and contribute to the disease pathophysiology by influencing the expression of genes involved in placental development or disease. Our previous study revealed an increase in miR-210-5p expression in placentae from patients with early-onset pregnancy complications and identified candidate gene targets for miR-210-5p. The purpose of this study was to: (i) validate candidate gene targets predicted for miR-210-5p from microRNA-RNA expression data, and (ii) overexpress miR-210-5p in a trophoblast cell line (HTR-8/SVneo) to assess impact on trophoblast cell functions. Integration of the miRNA and RNA sequencing expression data revealed 8 candidate gene targets for miR-210-5p in patients with PE only or PE + IUGR. Luciferase reporter assays identified two gene targets for miR-210-5p, CSF1 and ITGAM. Real-time PCR confirmed the decreased expression of CSF1 and ITGAM in patients with PE + IUGR. Immunohistochemistry of placentae from late second trimester identified CSF1 and ITGAM in intermediate trophoblast cells in the decidua. Expression levels of CSF1 and ITGAM were reduced in HTR-8/SVneo cells following increased miR-210-5p expression. Concomitantly, HTR-8/SVneo cells demonstrate an average 45% reduction in cell migration. These findings suggest that miR-210-5p may contribute to dysfunction of intermediate trophoblasts and potentially contribute to the disease process of these pregnancy complications.

Fetal growth patterns in pregnancy-associated hypertensive disorders: NICHD Fetal Growth Studies

BACKGROUND

Fetal growth patterns in pregnancy-associated hypertensive disorders is poorly understood because prospective longitudinal data are lacking.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to compare longitudinal fetal growth trajectories between normotensive women and those with pregnancy-associated hypertensive disorders.

STUDY DESIGN

This is a study based on data from a prospective longitudinal cohort study of fetal growth performed at 12 US sites (2009-2013). Project gestational age was confirmed by ultrasound between 8 weeks 0 days and 13 weels 6 days, and up to 6 ultrasounds were performed across gestation. Hypertensive disorders were diagnosed based on 2002 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists guidelines and grouped hierarchically as severe preeclampsia (including eclampsia or HELLP [hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count] syndrome), mild preeclampsia, severe gestational hypertension, mild gestational hypertension, or unspecified hypertension. Women without any hypertensive disorder constituted the normotensive group. Growth curves for estimated fetal weight and individual biometric parameters including biparietal diameter, head circumference, abdominal circumference, and femur and humerus length were calculated for each group using linear mixed models with cubic splines. Global and weekly pairwise comparisons were performed between women with a hypertensive disorder compared with normotensive women to analyze differences while adjusting for confounding variables. Delivery gestational age and birthweights were compared among groups.

RESULTS

Of 2462 women analyzed, 2296 (93.3%) were normotensive, 63 (2.6%) had mild gestational hypertension, 54 (2.2%) mild preeclampsia, 32 (1.3%) severe preeclampsia, and 17 (0.7%) unspecified hypertension. Compared with normotensive women, those with severe preeclampsia had estimated fetal weights that were reduced between 22 and 38 weeks (all weekly pairwise values of P < .008). Women with severe preeclampsia compared with those without hypertension also had significantly smaller fetal abdominal circumference between 23-31 and 33-37 weeks' gestation (weekly pairwise values of P < .04). Scattered weekly growth differences were noted on other biometric parameters between these 2 groups. The consistent differences in estimated fetal weight and abdominal circumference were not observed between women with other hypertensive disorders and those who were normotensive. Women with severe preeclampsia delivered significantly earlier (mean gestational age 35.9 ± 3.2 weeks) than the other groups (global P < .0001). Birthweights in the severe preeclampsia group were also significantly lower (mean -949.5 g [95% confidence interval, -1117.7 to -781.2 g]; P < .0001) than in the normotensive group.

CONCLUSION

Among women with pregnancy-associated hypertensive disorders, only those destined to develop severe preeclampsia demonstrated a significant and consistent difference in fetal growth (ie, smaller estimated fetal weight and abdominal circumference) when compared with normotensive women.

Effects of fast versus slow-releasing hydrogen sulfide donors in hypertension in pregnancy and fetoplacental growth restriction

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is a vasorelaxant gas with therapeutic potential in several diseases. However, effects of H₂S donors in hypertensive pregnancy complicated by feto-placental growth restriction are unclear. Therefore, we aimed to examine and compare the effects of fast-releasing H₂S donor (sodium hydrosulfide-NaHS) and slow-releasing H₂S donor (GYY4137) in hypertension-in-pregnancy. Pregnant rats were distributed into four groups: normal pregnancy (Norm-Preg), hypertensive pregnancy (HTN-Preg), hypertensive pregnancy + NaHS (HTN-Preg + NaHS), and hypertensive pregnancy + GYY4137 (HTN-Preg + GYY). Systolic blood pressure, plasma H₂S levels, fetal and placental weights, number of viable fetuses, litter size, and endothelium-dependent vasodilation were examined. Also, oxidative stress was assessed in placenta. We found that GYY4137 attenuated hypertension on gestational days 16 and 18, while NaHS presented antihypertensive effect only on gestational day 18. GYY4137, but not NaHS, increased plasma H₂S levels. Greater fetal and placental weights were found with GYY4137 than NaHS treatment. Also, HTN-Preg + NaHS presented further reductions in placental weights when compared to HTN-Preg group. Number of viable fetuses and litter size presented no significant changes. GYY4137 reduced placental oxidative stress caused by hypertension, while greater increases in oxidative stress were found in HTN-Preg + NaHS than HTN-Preg group. Hypertensive pregnancy caused impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation, while GYY4137 and NaHS treatments blunted endothelial dysfunction. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation was completely blocked by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. We conclude that slow-releasing H₂S donor GYY4137 is advantageous compared with fast-releasing H₂S-donor NaHS to attenuate hypertension-in-pregnancy and to protect against feto-placental growth restriction and oxidative stress.

Assessment efficacy of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and monocyte-lymphocyte ratio in preeclampsia

OBJECTIVE

Abnormal changes in immune-mediated inflammation contribute to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE). We aim to investigate the value of systemic immune inflammation indices-neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR)-to identify and evaluate the prognosis of patients with PE.

METHODS

This study reviewed clinical records of 367 PE patients (162 with mild PE and 205 with severe PE), in addition to a control group of 172 normal pregnancies. Blood cell counts were performed at the first diagnosis of PE, and NLR and MLR were calculated by absolute cell count.

RESULTS

Absolute neutrophil, lymphocyte, and monocyte counts and NLR and MLR values in PE were significantly different from controls, although monocyte counts did not significantly differ between mild and severe PE. Receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC) analysis showed NLR and MLR had better diagnostic accuracy in distinguishing PE from controls [NLR area under the curve (AUC) = 0.70; MLR AUC = 0.78]. Further, NLR was the best predictor of disease severity (AUC = 0.71). Cutoff values of NLR > 4.198 or MLR > 0.325 for control and PE groups or a cutoff value of NLR > 4.182 for PE groups indicated that patients were more likely to encounter preterm delivery, have shorter admission-to-delivery interval, and develop maternal and neonatal complications.

CONCLUSION

Secondary analyses of white blood cell differential count parameters effectively evaluate the systemic inflammatory/immune state. Compared with absolute cell counts, NLR and MLR offer more effective indicators of clinical assessment, disease severity evaluation, and prognosis evaluation of PE.

Differences in expression rather than methylation at placenta-specific imprinted loci is associated with intrauterine growth restriction

BACKGROUND

Genome-wide studies have begun to link subtle variations in both allelic DNA methylation and parent-of-origin genetic effects with early development. Numerous reports have highlighted that the placenta plays a critical role in coordinating fetal growth, with many key functions regulated by genomic imprinting. With the recent description of wide-spread polymorphic placenta-specific imprinting, the molecular mechanisms leading to this curious polymorphic epigenetic phenomenon is unknown, as is their involvement in pregnancies complications.

RESULTS

Profiling of 35 ubiquitous and 112 placenta-specific imprinted differentially methylated regions (DMRs) using high-density methylation arrays and pyrosequencing revealed isolated aberrant methylation at ubiquitous DMRs as well as abundant hypomethylation at placenta-specific DMRs. Analysis of the underlying chromatin state revealed that the polymorphic nature is not only evident at the level of allelic methylation, but DMRs can also adopt an unusual epigenetic signature where the underlying histones are biallelically enrichment of H3K4 methylation, a modification normally mutually exclusive with DNA methylation. Quantitative expression analysis in placenta identified two genes, GPR1-AS1 and ZDBF2, that were differentially expressed between IUGRs and control samples after adjusting for clinical factors, revealing coordinated deregulation at the chromosome 2q33 imprinted locus.

CONCLUSIONS

DNA methylation is less stable at placenta-specific imprinted DMRs compared to ubiquitous DMRs and contributes to privileged state of the placenta epigenome. IUGR-associated expression differences were identified for several imprinted transcripts independent of allelic methylation. Further work is required to determine if these differences are the cause IUGR or reflect unique adaption by the placenta to developmental stresses.

T lymphocytes in the third trimester decidua in preeclampsia

OBJECTIVE

The aim of study was to conduct immunohistochemical quantification of CD3+ and CD8+ decidual lymphocytes in preeclampsia.

METHODS

A study group included 30 cases of preeclampsia and a control group included 20 healthy pregnant women, all delivered by Cesarean section. Samples of placental bed were analyzed after immunohistochemical staining of CD45+, CD3+ and CD8+ cells.

RESULTS

The group with preeclampsia included a significantly higher number of CD3+ (p < 0.01) and CD8+ (p < 0.05) T lymphocytes.

CONCLUSION

It is certain that thebalance dysregulation of T cell of the immune milieu of deciduais of importance in etiopathogenesis and manifestations of preeclampsia.