Catestatin can inhibit
catecholamine release from chromaffin cells and adrenergic neurons.
Catestatin can also have a strong
vasodilator effect. This may be useful in understanding the pathophysiology of
preeclampsia and its treatment. In this study, we investigated the serum
catestatin levels in pregnant women with and without
preeclampsia. Fifty consecutive women with mild
preeclampsia, 50 consecutive women with severe
preeclampsia, and 100 consecutive pregnant women with a gestational age-matched (±1 week) uncomplicated pregnancy were evaluated in a cross-sectional study. Mean serum
catestatin was significantly increased in the
preeclampsia group compared to the control group (290.7 ± 95.5 pg/mL vs. 182.8 ± 72.0 pg/mL). Mean serum
catestatin was comparable in mild and severe
preeclampsia groups (282.7 ± 97.9 pg/mL vs. 298.7 ± 93.4 pg/mL, p = .431). Serum
catestatin levels had positive correlations with systolic and diastolic blood pressure,
urea,
uric acid, and
creatinine. In conclusion, serum
catestatin levels are increased in preeclamptic pregnancies compared to gestational age-matched controls.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? The role of autonomic nervous system dysregulation in the pathophysiology of
preeclampsia is known. The most obvious part of this dysregulation is the sympathetic nervous system activation. The adrenal medulla is one of the locations of the sympathetic nervous system in the body.What do the results of this study add? Serum
catestatin levels were found to be correlated with clinical and laboratory data of
preeclampsia. This highlights the importance of chromaffin cell secretions in the adrenal medulla in
preeclampsia.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? This study will help understand the role of the adrenal medulla in the autonomic nervous system dysregulation in
preeclampsia. Also, control of serum
catestatin levels may support the treatment of
hypertension in
preeclampsia.