Maternal serum activin A is not elevated before preeclampsia in women who are at high risk.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The purpose of this study was to determine whether, in women who are at high risk of the development of preeclampsia, serum activin A concentrations are elevated before the disease and whether activin A is a useful predictor of preeclampsia.

STUDY DESIGN:

Sera were collected on five occasions throughout pregnancy from women with chronic hypertension, renal disease, or previous early-onset preeclampsia (n = 80 women). Women were classified as control subjects (normotensive or stable chronic hypertension), gestational hypertensive, or preeclamptic (de novo or superimposed). Serum activin A concentrations were measured by immunoassay. Differences in activin A concentrations between groups were analyzed with the use of a mixed-models procedure; screening test characteristics were calculated.

RESULTS:

Twenty-six women (33%) had gestational hypertension, and 17 women (21%) had preeclampsia or superimposed preeclampsia. Serum activin A levels increased with gestation in all groups (P =.0001), but there were no significant difference in activin A levels between groups (P =.75).

CONCLUSION:

In women who were at high risk of the development of preeclampsia, serum activin A levels are not elevated with preeclampsia. Activin A is not a useful predictor of preeclampsia in this setting.

• Authors: Catherine A Blackburn, Jeffrey A Keelan, Rennae S Taylor, Robyn A North
• Journal: American journal of obstetrics and gynecology (Am J Obstet Gynecol) Vol. 188 Issue 3 Pg. 807-11 (Mar 2003) ISSN: 0002-9378 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12634661 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• activin A
• Activins
• Inhibin-beta Subunits

Topics

• Activins (blood)
• Adult
• Cohort Studies
• Female
• Forecasting
• Humans
• Hypertension (blood)
• Inhibin-beta Subunits (blood)
• Pre-Eclampsia (blood, etiology)
• Pregnancy (blood)
• Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular (blood)
• Reference Values
• Risk Factors