Is there any relationship between adipocytokines and angiogenesis factors to address endothelial dysfunction and platelet aggregation in untreated patients with preeclampsia?

PURPOSE: Preeclampsia is a multisystem disorder and its etiology remains still unclear. Recent hypotheses rely on imbalance between angiogenic and antiangiogenic factors and disruption of endothelial function of spiral arteries. In addition; increased VTE (venous thromboembolism) risk is still unclear in preeclampsia. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between endothelial dysfunction, adipocytokines, platelet function, and vasculogenesis in preeclampsia.

METHODS: Plasma angiogenic (PlGF, VEGF), antiangiogenic factors (sflt-1, endoglin) with adipocytokines (leptin, adiponectin, ghrelin), endothelial dysfunction markers (vWF, NO), and platelet function markers (ADP and collagen induced platelet aggregation, P-selectin) were examined in 30 early-onset, 22 late-onset preeclampsia, and 27 healthy pregnants. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the serum biomarker levels except NO. NO levels were determined using colorimetric method.

RESULTS: Endoglin, leptin, and vWF levels were increased in preeclampsia (P < 0.001), whereas PlGF, P-selectin (P < 0.001), and col-induced platelet aggregation slope (P < 0.05) were decreased in the same counterpart as compared to healthy pregnants. Endoglin also correlated with sflt-1 in preeclamptic patients.

CONCLUSION: Increase in the levels of antiangiogenic factors and leptin herewith decline in the level of other angiogenic factor PlGF, did not affect nitric oxide and platelet aggregation markers significantly. Increased levels of vWF and endoglin might be result of endothelial dysfunction, so our findings suggest that an impaired angiogenesis may address endothelial dysfunction, but not platelet aggregation for preeclampsia.