Concentration of different proteolytic and angiogenic factors in plasma and placenta extract of patients with HELLP syndrome, pre-/eclampsia, and highly pathological Doppler flow measurements

Objective: Impaired trophoblast invasion plays a major role in the development of preeclampsia. Therefore various factors that are involved in invasion were investigated in gestational disease. Methods: In pregnant women with HELLP-syndrome (n = 18), pre-/eclampsia (n = 21) and highly pathological Doppler flow measurements (hpD) (n = 13), plasma and placental tissue extract concentrations of uPA, uPA-receptor, tPA, PAI-1, MMP-8, MMP-9, TIMP-1, thrombomodulin, and angiogenin were measured using ELISA. Results: In all three collectives, PAI-1 plasma concentrations were significantly higher (p < 0,05) than in normal pregnancies, in patients with HELLP-syndrome, tPA and TIMP-1 plasma levels were also elevated. MMP-9 concentrations in placental tissue extracts were lower in pre-/eclampsia than in normal pregnancies. Conclusions: Impaired placental implantation and remodelling in gestational disease is reflected by changes in plasma and placental tissue extract concentrations of various factors that are involved in these processes.