Correlation of Serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 in Patients Complicated with Preeclampsia and Normotensive Pregnant Women. |
Kyung Ju Lee, Min Jeong Oh, Hai Joong Kim, Sun Haeng Kim, Jae Kwan Lee, Jun Young Hur, Ho Suk Saw, Yong Kyun Park |
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Pocheon CHA University, Kangnam CHA General Hospital, Korea. 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea. mjohmd@korea.ac.kr |
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Abstract |
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to evaluate whether serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) are different between normotensive pregnant women and preeclampsia patients and also to investigate the relationship of VEGF and MMP-2. METHODS: We analyzed the serum levels of VEGF and MMP-2 in patients with preeclampsia (n=20) and normotensive pregnant women (n=20). RESULTS: Of the normotensive pregnant and preeclampsia women, the serum VEGF levels are 0.28 +/- 0.14 ng/mL 2.39 +/- 0.75 ng/mL, the serum MMP-2 levels are 11.81 +/- 1.75 ng/mL, 31.99 +/- 6.5 ng/mL respectively. These serum levels are higher in preeclampsia patients than normotensive pregnant women (P<0.001) The serum VEGF levels positively relate with plasma MMP-2 levels in preeclampsia (P<0.05, r=0.78). CONCLUSION: The serum VEGF levels highly correlate with the increased MMP-2 levels in preeclampsia, which may contribute the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. |
Key Words:
Vascular endothelial growth factor, Matrix metalloproteinase-2, Preeclampsia |
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