The role of maternal serum catestatin in the evaluation of preeclampsia and fetal cardiac functions

Objective: To compare the maternal serum catestatin (CST) levels in pregnant women with preeclampsia (PE) and with normal blood pressure and evaluate the relationship between the maternal serum CST levels and fetal cardiac functions.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 27 women with early-onset PE (EOPE), 28 women with late-onset PE (LOPE), and 28 healthy pregnant women. Maternal serum CST levels were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Fetal cardiac functions were evaluated using the cardiac Doppler.

Results: Maternal serum CST levels were lower in the EOPE group; however, no statistically significant difference was found between the groups. Compared with the other two groups, a statistically significant difference was found in the fetal E/A ratio and myocardial performance index (MPI) values of the EOPE group (p=0.013, p=0.002, p=0.005, p<0.001, respectively). The fetal E/A ratio was positively correlated with the maternal serum CST levels in both the PE and control groups (p<0.001, p<0.001). The fetal isovolumetric relaxation time and MPI values were negatively correlated with maternal serum CST levels in both the PE and control groups (p<0.001, p=0.001, p<0.001, and p=0.002, respectively).

Conclusion: Lower CST levels are associated with fetal cardiovascular dysfunction, thus CST can be a critical biochemical marker in fetal cardiac function evaluation.