Apesar de sua importância clínica e epidemiológica, a fisiopatologia da préeclâmpsia ainda não foi completamente compreendida. Sabe-se que a doença constitui-se de uma fase pré-clínica e um estágio clínico. Durante a última década muito esforço tem se concentrado na identificação precoce da doença, ainda em sua fase pré-clínica. A literatura científica tem demonstrado claramente um desequilíbrio na regulação da angiogênese das gestantes com pré-eclâmpsia, marcado por níveis elevados do fator antiangiogênico soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) e níveis diminuídos do fator pró-angiogênico placental growth fator (PlGF). Embora um número crescente de estudos em populações de alto risco tenha avaliado o papel desses biomarcadores no diagnóstico de pré-eclâmpsia, dados sobre sua utilização para a predição de pré-eclâmpsia superajuntada, cujo diagnóstico pode ser particularmente difícil, permanecem relativamente escassos e controversos. Com o presente estudo pretendemos avaliar o desempenho de medidas seriadas dos níveis maternos circulantes dos fatores sFlt-1 e PlGF, bem como da razão sFlt-1/PlGF, para predição de pré-eclâmpsia superajuntada e compará-lo ao seu desempenho na predição de pré-eclâmpsia em sua forma \"pura\", não superajuntada. Para este propósito, estudamos uma coorte prospectiva composta de dois braços, um de gestantes com hipertensão arterial crônica e outro de gestantes normotensas, e avaliamos os níveis séricos de sFlt-1 e de PlGF e a razão sFlt-1/PlGF nas idades gestacionais de 20, 26, 32 e 36 semanas, tendo como desfecho principal o diagnóstico de pré-eclâmpsia. Um total de 97 gestantes foram acompanhadas, 37 normotensas e 60 com hipertensão arterial crônica. Entre elas, 4 (10,8%) desenvolveram pré-eclâmpsia e 14 (23,3%) desenvolveram pré-eclâmpsia superajuntada. Para predição de pré-eclâmpsia, a análise ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristics) apresentou área sob a curva (AUC - area under curve) de 0,83 (IC 95% = 0,68-0,99, P = 0,035) para dosagem de PlGF com 20 semanas e AUC = 0,92 (IC 95% = 0,81 - 1,00, P = 0,007) para a razão sFlt-1/PlGF com 26 semanas de gestação. A variação percentual dos níveis de PlGF entre 26 e 32 semanas de gestação apresentou AUC = 0,96 (IC de 95% = 0,89-1,00, P = 0,003). Para a predição de pré-eclâmpsia superajuntada, a razão sFlt-1/PIGF na idade gestacional de 32 semanas apresentou AUC = 0,69 (IC de 95% = 0,53-0,85, P = 0,039). Entre 20 e 26 semanas de gestação, a variação percentual do PIGF e da razão sFlt-1/PlGF apresentaram, respectivamente, AUC = 0,74 (IC de 95% = 0,58-0,90, P = 0,018) e AUC = 0,71 (IC 95% = 0,52-0,91, P = 0,034). Por nossos resultados podemos concluir que, embora os níveis de PlGF e a razão sFlt-1/ PlGF tenham apresentado bons desempenhos na predição de pré-eclâmpsia, é preciso ter cuidado ao usá-los para a predição de pré-eclâmpsia superajuntada. Nessas gestantes, a dosagem dos fatores angiogênicos apresenta capacidade de predição menor e mais tardia. Avaliações seriadas dos fatores podem melhorar o desempenho dos testes para predição de pré-eclâmpsia superajuntada em idades gestacionais mais precoces / Despite being a major public health problem, the pathophysiology of preeclampsia is incompletely understood. Preeclampsia progression comprises a pre-clinical stage and a clinical stage. During the last decade much work has focused on identifying the pre-clinical stage of preeclampsia. Many researchers have clearly demonstrated an anti-angiogenic imbalance that is marked by higher levels of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and lower levels of placental growth factor (PlGF) in the subjects who develop preeclampsia compared with those who do not. Although a growing number of studies in the high-risk population have shown the role of these biomarkers in diagnosing preeclampsia, superimposed preeclampsia, which can be a challenging diagnosis, remains partially understudied and the literature regarding this subject continues to be relatively scarce as well as controversial. By this study, we aimed to evaluate the performance of serial measurements of maternal circulating sFlt-1 and PlGF levels for the prediction of superimposed preeclampsia in chronic hypertensive subjects and to compare it to the prediction of preeclampsia in normotensive control subjects. For this purpose, we evaluated a two-armed prospective cohort of women with normotensive and chronic hypertensive pregnancies and assessed the serum levels of sFlt-1 and PlGF and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio at gestational ages of 20, 26, 32 and 36 weeks, having preeclampsia as the primary outcome to be predicted. A total of 97 women were followed-up, 37 in the normotensive group and 60 in the chronic hypertensive group. Among them, 4 (10.8%) women developed preeclampsia and 14 (23.3%) developed superimposed preeclampsia. For predicting preeclampsia, PlGF at 20 gestational weeks presented an AUC=0.83 (CI 95% = 0.68 - 0.99, P=0.035) and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio at 26 gestational weeks presented an AUC=0.92 (CI95% = 0.81 - 1.00, P=0.007). The percent change of the PlGF levels between 26 and 32 gestational weeks presented an AUC=0.96 (CI 95% = 0.89 - 1.00, P=0.003). For predicting superimposed preeclampsia, the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio at 32 gestational weeks presented an AUC=0.69 (CI 95% = 0.53 - 0.85, P=0.039). Between 20 and 26 gestational weeks, the percent change of PlGF and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio presented, respectively, an AUC=0.74 (CI 95% = 0.58 - 0.90, P=0.018) and an AUC=0.71 (CI 95% = 0.52 - 0.91, P=0.034). By our results, we concluded that, although the PlGF level and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio present good performances in the prediction of preeclampsia, caution is required when using them for the prediction of superimposed preeclampsia. Sequential assessments slightly improve the test performances for predicting superimposed preeclampsia at earlier gestational ages

Diversas pesquisas têm direcionado esforços na busca de biomateriais que fossem capazes de melhorar a osseointegração e a estabilidade de implantes dentais em regiões anatômicas desfavoráveis. Entretanto, muitas das opções de terapias regenerativas, largamente empregadas em cirurgias orais reconstrutivas, estão associadas à algumas desvantagens clínicas como um grande período de recuperação, alto risco de morbidade, risco de parestesia nos pacientes, além de apresentarem alto custo. Biomateriais obtidos a partir do látex natural extraído da Hevea brasilienses (seringueira) demonstraram apresentar propriedades angiogênicas e significante aumento no reparo ósseo de alvéolos dentais e em defeitos de calota de ratos. Considerando os benefícios da angiogênese no processo de reparação óssea, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a capacidade osteogênica proporcionado pelas proteínas angiogênicas do látex na otimização do processo de osseointegração e na estabilidade de implantes de titânio instalados em defeitos ósseos cicunferenciais. Dez cães foram submetidos às cirurgias de instalação de implantes no centro de defeitos ósseos, após a exodontia dos pré-molares. Os defeitos ósseos em cada animal foram preenchidos com coágulo, osso autógeno, proteínas angiogênicas do látex associada ao gel carreador ou gel carreador (apenas gel de colágeno associado ao ácido hialurônico, sem a presença de implante). Em um dos lados da mandíbula os implantes foram recobertos por membrana não absorvível de e-PTFE sem reforço de titânio, ao passo que no lado contralateral, os implantes foram recobertos apenas pelo retalho mucoperiosteal. Metade dos animais foram sacrificados após 4 semanas e o restante após 12 semanas pós-operatórias. A estabilidade dos implantes foi avaliada através de análise de freqüência de ressonância e a formação óssea foi analisada por meio de histologia, histomorfometria, análise qualitativa e quantitativa de fluorescência. Os resultados numéricos obtidos foram submetidos à análise de variância (ANOVA) e contrastes ortogonais foram realizados para comparações múltiplas. Histologicamente, observou-se para todos os biomateriais, uma formação de osso imaturo e lamelar no tempo de 4 e 12 semanas, respectivamente. Na análise qualitativa de fluorescência, encontrou-se maior atividade óssea no período inicial de avaliação (p≤0,05). A membrana não mostrou efeito significativo no processo de regeneração óssea e não houve diferença estatística entre os diferentes biomateriais testados (p≥0,05). O gel carreador apresentou menor formação óssea quando comparado aos demais materiais, sem considerar o tempo e a presença da membrana (p≤0,05). Houve um aumento significativo da formação óssea, osseointegração e da estabilidade ao longo do tempo para os diferentes biomateriais empregados (p≤0,05), independente da presença da membrana. O grupo das proteínas angiogências do látex mostraram formação óssea similar ao coágulo e ao osso autógeno em 4 e 12 semanas, respectivamente (p≥0,05). Os biomateriais obtiveram significante formação óssea, osseointegração e estabilidade dos implantes ao longo do período de avaliação experimental. Esta pesquisa mostrou que a regeneração óssea guiada não alterou os resultados histométricos, as proteínas angiogênicas do látex promoveram deposição óssea similar ao coágulo e osso autógeno nos defeitos alveolares, observou-se um aumento do processo de ossoeintegração e da estabilidade dos implantes em todos os sítios experimentais, independente do tratamento instituído. / The development of biomaterials that can assist osseointegration and implant stability in dissatisfactory anatomical regions has been the goal of several researches in the past years. Despite the array of regenerative therapies to be used, some clinical disadvantages still persist, such as considerable patient morbidity, extended patient recovery periods, substantial cost, risk of paresthesia and residual defects in the donor site. Natural latex biomaterials from Hevea brasiliensis (rubber tree) have shown promising advantages, such as angiogenic properties, significantly high bone repair in dental alveoli, easy acquisition and handling, biocompatibility, reduced cost, dispensability of donor sites and very little chance of morbidity. Considering the well-known benefits of angiogenesis in the bone healing process, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the osteogenic capacity of angiogenic latex proteins in accelerating osseointegration and implant stability, when placed in circumferential bone defects. Ten male dogs were underwent an implant placement in center of the defects after pre-molar extractions. The circumferential gaps around the implant were filled either with coagulum, particulate autogenous bone graft, latex angiogenic proteins mixed in a gel carrier, or with collagen and hyaluronic acid gel carrier without implants. Circumferential defects were covered with a non-absorbable e-PTFE membrane on one side and left uncovered on the other. Half the animals were sacrificed 4 and 12 weeks after implant placement. Implant stability was evaluated using resonance-frequency analysis and bone formation was analyzed by histological, histometric, qualitative and quantitative bone labeling analysis. Data were analyzed statistically using ANOVA and orthogonal contrasts for multiple comparisons. Immature and lamellar bone were observed at 4 and 12 weeks, respectively. Bone labeling analysis showed more bone activity on early period of healing (p≤0.05). The membrane did not show significant effect on bone regeneration and there was not statistical difference among the different biomaterials, considering the different time evaluation periods (p≥0.05). Gel carrier group showed less bone formation than other filling materials, not considering recovery time and membrane (p≤0.05). Latex angiogenic proteins showed bone regeneration similar to coagulum and bone graft at 4 and 12 weeks, respectively (p≥0.05). There was significant bone formation, osseointegration and implant stability of biomaterials during the entire healing period. This research showed that guided bone regeneration technique did not change the histometric results; latex angiogenic proteins promoted bone deposition similar to coagulum and bone graft on alveolar bone defects; osseointegration process and implant stability occurred in all experimental sites, regardless of the treatment performed.

No description available.

<p>UVOD: Hipertenzivna oboljenja u trudnoći predstavljaju heterogenu grupu bolesti koja se javljaju kod 3-8% trudnica op&scaron;te populacije. Najteže forme ovih oboljenja preeklampsija, eklampsija i HELLP sindrom su vodeći uzročnici morbiditeta i mortaliteta majke i ploda u odnosu na sve druge komplikacije u trudnoći. Etiopatogeneza ovih oboljenja je jo&scaron; uvek nedovoljno razja&scaron;njena ali se smatra da placenta ima ključnu ulogu u nastanku ovih komplikacija, odnosno da placentalna insuficijencija, koja nastaje kao posledica nedovoljne adaptacije decidualnih i intramiometrijalnih delova spiralnih arterija već u prvih nekoliko nedelja trudnoće, dovodi do redukcije utero-placentalne cirkulacije i lokalne placentalne hipoksije, &scaron;to se nepovoljno održava i na majku i na plod. U cilju razja&scaron;njenja patofiziolo&scaron;kih mehanizama nastanka hipertenzivnih oboljenja u trudnoći i pronalaska dovoljno senzitivnih makera koji bi pomogli u ranom predviđanju nastanka najtežih formi ovih oboljenja, do sada su ispitivani brojni proteini koji učestvuju u procesima stvaranja i razvoja placentalne vaskularne mreže kao &scaron;to su vaskularni endotelni faktor rasta (VEGF-A), placentalni faktor rasta (PlGF) i solubilni receptor fms-like tirozin kinaza receptor (sFlt-1). CILJ: Uporediti serumske koncentracije (sFlt-1, PlGF, VEGF-A, PAPP-a, free&szlig;hCG, glukoze, ukupnog holesterola, HDL holesterola, LDL holesterola, triglicerida, apo-AI, apoB, AST, ALT, GGT, kreatinina, ureje, mokraćne kiseline, hsCRP, Na, K, Cl, P, Mg i Ca između grupe trudnica sa preeklampsijom, hroničnom i gestacijskom hipertenzijom i kontrolne grupe trudnica u prvom trimestru trudnoće između 11 i 14. nedelje gestacije. Ispitati da li se vrednosti odabranih laboratorijskih parametara (sFlt-1, VEGF-A i PLGF) kod ispitivanih trudnica statistički značajno razlikuju u odnosu na gestacijsku nedelju u trenutku porođaja, težinu i dužinu i APGAR skor bodovanja novorođenčeta. Ispitati da li se vrednosti angiogenih proteina:sFlt-1, VEGF-A, PlGF značajno razlikuju kod ispitivanih trudnica u odnosu na broj prethodnih trudnoća i starosti trudnica. MATERIJAL I METODE: Istraživanje je sprovedeno kao prospektivno analitička studija u Kliničkom centru Vojvodine, u periodu od juna 2012. do februara 2015. godine. U istraživanje je uključeno ukupno 143 trudnice starosti od 18 &ndash; 43 godine. Sve trudnice uključene u istraživanje podeljene su na dve ispitivane i jednu kontrolnu grupu. Prvu ispitivanu grupu činilo je 43 trudnice koje su po definisanim kriterijuma razvile preeklampsiju u aktuelnoj trudnoći. Drugu ispitivanu grupu činilo je 46 trudnica kojima je dijagnostikovana ili potvrđena hronična ili gestacijska hipertenzija u aktuelnoj trudnoći. Kontrolnu grupu činilo je 54 zdravih trudnica sa verifikovanim fiziolo&scaron;kim ishodom trudnoće u terminu, bez maternalnih i fetalnih komplikacija. Prilikom regrutovanja trudnica (između 11+0 i 13+6 nedelja gestacije) za uče&scaron;će u istraživanju, uzeti su anamnestički podaci o faktorima rizika za pojavu hipertenzivnih oboljenja u trudnoći, i u okviru kliničkog i aku&scaron;erskog pregleda urađena su antropometrijska merenja, merenje krvnog pritiska, i specijalizovani ultrazvučni pregled ploda radi utvrđivanja gestacijske starosti ploda i određivanja rizika za pojavu hromozomskih anomalija ploda. Trudnicama je nakon uzimanja anamnestičkih podataka i kliničkog i aku&scaron;erskog pregleda i potpisanog pisanog pristanka pacijenta o dobrovoljnom učestvovanju u istraživanju izvađena krv radi određivanja odabranih laboratorijskih parametara. Serumske koncentracije sFlt1, VEGF-A i PIGF određivane su kvantitativnom ELISA tehnikom (R&amp;D Systems Europe Ltd. Abingdon, UK), dok su: glukoza, ukupni holesterol, HDL holesterol, LDL holesterol, trigliceridi, apo-AI I apoB, AST, ALT, GGT, kreatinin, ureja, mokraćna kiselina, hsCRP, Na, K, Cl, Mg, P, Ca određivani na automatizovanim analizatorskim sistemima. Sve trudnice su kategorisane u 2 ispitivane i kontrolnu grupu na osnovu pojave ili isključenja hipertenzivnih oboljenja u aktuelnoj trudnoći. Statistička obrada podataka urađena je u statističkom programu STATISTICA 12 (StatSoft Inc.,Tulsa, OK, USA). Podaci su predstavljeni tabelarno i grafički, nivo statističe značajnosti p, je tumačen statistički značajnim ukoliko su vrednosti p&lt;0,05. REZULTATI: Vrednosti serumskih koncentracija sFlt-1 se statistički značajno razlikuju u sve tri grupe ispitanica i značajno su vi&scaron;e u grupama sa hipertenzivnim oboljenjima u odnosu na zdravu grupu ispitanica, p&lt;0,001. Serumske koncentracije VEGF-A su značajno niže u grupi trudnica sa preeklampsijom u odnosu na zdrave trudnice kontrolne grupe (p&lt;0,001), dok se nivoi serumskih koncentracija PlGF statistički značajno razlikuju između sve tri grupe trudnica tako da su najniže vrednosti uočene u grupi sa preeklampsijom (p&lt;0,001) u odnosu na preostale dve grupe ispitanica. Nije uočeno postojanje statistički značajne razlike u nivoima PAPP-A, biohemijskih parametara (glukoze, AST, ALT, GGT kreatinina, ureje, mokraćne kiseline), lipidskih parametara (uk. holesterol, LDL, apo A-I, apo B), parametara inflamatornog (kompletna krvna slika, fibrinogen), hemostaznog (D-dimer, vWF-antigen) i elektrolitskog statusa (Na, K, Cl, P, Mg), p&gt;0,05. Nivoi free &szlig;hCG i HDL holesterola su značajno niže, dok su vrednosti hsCRP i triglicerida značajno vi&scaron;e u grupi trudnica sa preeklampsijom u odnosu na grupu bez hipertenzivnih poremećaja u trudnoći. Serumske koncentracije sFlt-1 preko 865 pg/ml imaju senzitivnost od 93% i specifičnost od 81,5% u predviđanju nastanka preeklampsije, dok serumske koncentracije PlGF ispod 60 pg/ml senzitivnost od 88,4% i specifičnost od 79,6% u predviđanju pojave preeklampsije. Serumske koncentracije sFlt-1, VEGF-A i PlGF ne pokazuju statistički značajnu razliku u odnosu na godine života trudnice i broja prethodnih trudnoća p&gt;0,05. Serumske koncentracije sFlt-1 i PlGF se značajno razlikuju u odnosu na telesnu težinu novorođenčeta, tako da su niže vrednosti oba proteina detektovane u grupi novorođenčadi sa porođajnom težinom ispod 1500 gr. u odnosu na telesnu masu između 2800-3300 gr, p&lt;0,001. Takođe su nađene niže vrednosti sFlt-1 i PlGF u grupi trudnica koje su se porodile pre 33. nedelje gestacije u odnosu na nedelju gestacije u trenutku porođaja preko 37 nedelje gestacije, p&lt;0,001. Serumske koncentracije sFlt-1 i PlGF se značajno razlikuju u odnosu na indeks telesne mase majke tako da su vi&scaron;e vrednosti sFlt-1 i niže vednosti PlGF nađene u grupi trudnica sa indeksom telesne mase ispod 25 u odnosu na grupu trudnica sa indeksom telesne mase preko 30 kg/m2, p&lt;0,001. Serumske koncentracije sFlt-1 u prvom trimestru trudnoće su značajno povezane sa parametrima inflamacije (hsCRP), vrednostima dijastolnog krvnog pritiska i nivoima free &szlig;hCG. Takođe se uočava značajna povezanost koncentracije PlGF sa indeksom telesne mase, vrednostima sistolnog krvnog pritiska i koncentracijom hsCRP u prvom trimestru trudnoće. ZAKLJUČAK: Nivoi antiangiogenog proteina sFlt-1 su vi&scaron;e u grupi trudnica sa preeklampsijom u odnosu na grupu sa hroničnom i gestacijskom hipertenzijom i grupu trudnica bez hipertenzivnih poremećaja trudnoći. Nivoi proangiogenog proteina VEGF-A su značajno niže u grupi trudnica sa preeklampsijom i hroničnom i gestacijskom hipertenzijom u odnosu na grupu trudnica bez hipertenzivnih poremećaja u trudnoći. Serumske koncentracije proangiogenog proteina PlGF su niže u grupi trudnica sa preeklampsijom u odnosu na grupu sa hroničnom i gestacijskom hipertenzijom i grupu trudnica bez hipertenzivnih poremećaja trudnoći. Serumske koncentracije placentalnog proteina free &szlig;hCG i HDL holesterola su značajno niže, dok su vrednosti hsCRP i triglicerida značajno vi&scaron;e u grupi trudnica sa preeklampsijom u odnosu na grupu bez hipertenzivnih poremećaja u trudnoći. Između trudnica sa hipertenzivnim poremećajima u trudnoći i zdravih trudnica nije uočeno postojanje značajne razlike u vrednostima placentalnog proteina PAPP-A, biohemijskih parametara (glukoze, AST, ALT, GGT kreatinina, ureje, mokraćne kiseline), lipidskih parametara (uk. holesterol, LDL, apo A-I, apo B), parametara inflamatornog (kompletna krvna slika, fibrinogen), hemostaznog (D-dimer, vWF-antigen) i elektrolitskog statusa (Na, K, Cl, P, Mg). Serumske koncentracije sFlt-1 i PlGF se značajno razlikuju u odnosu na gestacijsku starost na porođaju i telesnu masu novorođenčeta i niže su kod trudnica koje su se prevremeno porodile kao i kod novorođenčati sa manjom porođajnom težinom. Serumske koncentracije sFlt-1 se značajno razlikuju u odnosu telesnu dužinu i APGAR skor novorođenčeta, tako da su vi&scaron;e vrednosti sFlt-1 udružene sa većom telesnom dužinom novorođenčeta i boljim APGAR skorom. Serumske koncentracije sFlt-1, VEGF-A i PlGF se ne razlikuju značajno u odnosu na godine života trudnice i broja prethodnih trudnoća. Nivoi proteina angiogeneze sFlt-1 i PlGF predstavljaju dobre prediktore u predviđanju nastanka preeklampsije u prvom trimestru trudnoće.</p> / <p>INTRODUCTION: Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy are a heterogeneous group of diseases that occur in 3-8% of all pregnancies. The most difficult forms of these diseases: preeclampsia, eclampsia and HELLP syndrome are the leading causes of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality in relation to all other pregnancy complications. Etiopathogenesis of these diseases is still insufficiently understood but it is thought that the placenta plays a key role in the development of these complications, and that placental insufficiency, which occurs as a result of insufficient adaptation of decidual intramiometrial and parts of the spiral arteries in the first few weeks of pregnancy, leading to a reduction of utero- placental circulation and local placental hypoxia, which adversely affects the mother and the fetus. In order to elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy and to find sufficiently sensitive makers for early prediction of the most severe forms of these diseases, so far have been investigated a number of proteins involved in the processes of creation and development of placental vascular network such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A), placental growth factor (PlGF) and soluble fms-like receptor tyrosine kinase receptor (sFlt-1). OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare serum concentration of sFlt-1, PlGF, VEGF-A, PAPP-A, free&szlig;hCG, glucose, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, apo-AI, apo B, AST, ALT, GGT, creatinine, urea, uric acid, hsCRP, Na, K, Cl, P, Mg and Ca between the group of pregnant women with preeclampsia, chronic and gestational hypertension and the control group of pregnant women in the first trimester of pregnancy between 11 and 14 weeks gestation. Also the aim was to examine whether the value of selected laboratory parameters (sFlt-1, VEGF-A and PlGF) differ in relation to gestational week at the time of birth, weight, length and APGAR scoring system of newborns. The aim was to examine whether the value of angiogenic proteins: sFlt-1, VEGF-A and PlGF differ significantly in relation to the number of previous pregnancies and age of the pregnant woman. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted as a prospective analytical study in the Clinical Center of Vojvodina, in the period from June 2012 to February 2015. The study included a total of 143 pregnant women aged 18 - 43 years. All pregnant women included in the study were divided into two study and one control group. The first study group consisted of 43 pregnant women who developed preeclampsia during the current pregnancy. The second study group consisted of 46 pregnant women who are newly diagnosed or confirmed chronic or gestational hypertension during the current pregnancy. The control group consisted of 54 healthy pregnant women with verified physiological outcome of pregnancy at term without maternal and fetal complications. Patients were included in the study between 11 + 0 and 13 + 6 weeks of gestation. All patients had data about risk factors for developing hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. After clinical and obstetric examination all patients underwent anthropometric measurements, measurement of blood pressure, and specialized ultrasound examination to determine precise gestational age of the fetus and to determine the risk for fetal chromosomal abnormalities. All patients signed a written consent of the patient&#39;s voluntary participation in the study. Serum levels of sFlt1, VEGF-A and PlGF were determined by quantitative ELISA (R &amp; D Systems Europe Ltd., Abingdon, UK), while glucose, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, apo-AI, apo B, AST, ALT, GGT, creatinine, urea, uric acid, hsCRP, Na, K, Cl, P, Mg, Ca were determined on automated analyzer systems. All pregnant women were categorized into 2 study and a control group on the basis of presence of hypertensive disorders in the current pregnancy. Statistical analysis was performed in 12 statistical program STATISTICA (StatSoft Inc., Tulsa, OK, USA). The data are presented in tables and graphs, the level of significance p is interpreted statistically significant if the p value was less than &lt;0.05. RESULTS: Serum concentrations of sFlt-1 are statistically significantly different in all study groups and significantly higher in the groups with hypertensive disorders compared to healthy subjects p &lt;0.001. Serum levels of VEGF-A are significantly lower in the preeclampsia group compared to healthy control group (p &lt;0.001), while the levels of serum concentration of PlGF statistically significantly different between all groups so that the lowest values are observed in the preeclampsia group (p &lt;0.001) compared to the other two study groups. There is no statistically significant differences in the levels of PAPP-A, biochemical parameters (glucose, AST, ALT, GGT creatinine, urea, uric acid), lipid parameters (total cholesterol, LDL, apo AI, apo B), inflammatory parameters (complete blood count, fibrinogen), hemostatic (D-dimer, vWF-antigen) and electrolyte status (Na, K, Cl, P, Mg, Ca), p&gt; 0.05. Levels of free &szlig;hCG and HDL cholesterol levels are significantly lower, while the value of hsCRP and triglycerides significantly higher in the group of women with preeclampsia compared to the healthy control group. Serum concentrations of sFlt-1 over 865 pg/ml have a sensitivity of 93% and specificity of 81.5% in predicting preeclampsia, while serum PlGF concentration below 60 pg/ml, a sensitivity of 88.4% and a specificity of 79.6% in predicting preeclampsia. Serum concentrations of sFlt-1, VEGF-A and PlGF do not show a statistically significant difference compared to the age of pregnant women and the number of previous pregnancies p&gt; 0.05. Serum concentrations of sFlt-1 and PlGF are significantly different in relation to the weight of the newborn, so that the lower values of both proteins are in the group of infants with birth weight below 1500 gr. in relation to the body weight between 2800-3300 gr., p &lt;0.001. There is also lower concentrations of sFlt-1 and PlGF in a group with deliveries before 33 weeks of gestation compared to the deliveries after 37 week of gestation, p &lt;0.001. Serum concentrations of sFlt-1 and PlGF are significantly different in relation to the mother&#39;s body mass index so that the lower values of sFlt-1 and PlGF are in the group of women with a body mass index below 25 in relation to a group with a body mass index over 30 kg/m2, p &lt;0.001. Serum concentrations of sFlt-1 in the first trimester of pregnancy were significantly associated with the parameters of inflammation (hsCRP), diastolic blood pressure and levels of free &szlig;hCG. It is also observed a significant correlation between PlGF with a body mass index, systolic blood pressure and hsCRP concentration in the first trimester of pregnancy. CONCLUSION: The levels of anti-angiogenic protein sFlt-1 are higher in the group of pregnant women with preeclampsia than in the group with chronic and gestational hypertension and the control healthy group. Levels of proangiogenic VEGF-A protein are significantly lower in the preeclampsia group and group with gestational and chronic hypertension compared to the control group. Serum levels of proangiogenic PlGF protein are significantly lower in the preeclampsia group than in the group with chronic and gestational hypertension and the control group. Serum concentrations of placental protein free &szlig;hCG and HDL cholesterol are significantly lower, while the value of hsCRP and triglycerides significantly higher in the preeclampsia group compared to the control group. Among pregnant women with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy and healthy pregnant women there are no significant differences in the values of placental PAPP-A protein, biochemical parameters (glucose, AST, ALT, GGT creatinine, urea, uric acid), lipid parameters (total cholesterol, LDL, apo AI, apo B), inflammatory parameters (complete blood count, fibrinogen), hemostatic (D-dimer, vWF-antigen) and electrolyte status (Na, K, Cl, P, Mg, Ca). Serum concentrations of sFlt-1 and PlGF are significantly different in relation to gestational age at delivery and newborn body weight and are lower in group with preterm delivery and newborns with lower birth weight. Serum concentrations of sFlt-1 are significantly different compared to body length and Apgar score, so that the higher values of sFlt-1 are associated with better outcome of newborns (greater body length and better APGAR score). Serum concentrations of sFlt-1, VEGF-A and PlGF are not different significantly with respect to age of pregnancy and the number of previous pregnancies. The levels of sFlt-1 and PlGF represents helpful markers in prediction of preeclampsia in the first trimester of pregnancy.</p>

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--University of South Florida, 2009. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references. Also available online.

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--University of South Florida, 2009. / Title from PDF of title page. Document formatted into pages; contains 103 pages. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references.