Circulating endothelial cell number and markers of endothelial dysfunction in previously preeclamptic women.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with preeclampsia (PE) have endothelial dysfunction and an increased future risk of cardiovascular (CV) mortality. The number of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) is markedly increased in conditions associated with a high degree of endothelial cell activation/injury including PE. We hypothesized that the number of CECs continues to be increased in women with a history of PE, reflecting ongoing endothelial cell activation/injury.

STUDY DESIGN: CECs, flow-mediated vasodilation, levels of adhesion molecules and soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (sVEGFR1), and urine albumin/creatinine ratio were determined in 21 healthy women with ongoing normal pregnancy, 24 healthy currently nonpregnant women with a history of normal pregnancy, a total of 17 women with currently active mild (n = 11) or severe (n = 6) PE without hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome, and 16 currently nonpregnant women with a history of mild (n = 10) or severe (n = 6) PE.

RESULTS: Blood samples from women with active preeclampsia had higher CECs (9.9 ± 7.9 cells/mL) than healthy pregnant women (3.0 ± 4.1 cells/mL; P < .001), healthy nonpregnant women with a history of normal pregnancy (3.4 ± 4.0 cells/mL; P < .001), or women with a history of preeclampsia (2.4 ± 2.0 cells/mL; P < .001). The number of CECs were similar between women with a history of preeclampsia and healthy nonpregnant women with a history of normal pregnancy. Patients with active preeclampsia had significantly higher soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, soluble E-selectin, sVEGFR1, and urinary albumin/creatinine ratio than healthy pregnant women. However, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, soluble E-selectin, urinary albumin/creatinine ratio were similar in women with a history of preeclampsia and healthy nonpregnant women with a history of normal pregnancy. However, women with a history of preeclampsia had higher sVEGFR1 levels than women with a history of normal pregnancy (P < .05).

CONCLUSION: Markers of endothelial activation, dysfunction, and damage were increased in patients with PE. After the delivery, this activation status is similar to the age-matched nonpregnant women with a history of normal pregnancy. However, sVEGFR-1 levels remain higher in women with a history of preeclampsia compared with women without a history of preeclampsia.