Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to compare serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the VEGF receptors, VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2, free placental growth factor (fPGF), endostatin, and serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) levels in women with mild and severe preeclampsia and healthy pregnant women. MATERIAL AND METHODS A included patients diagnosed with mild preeclampsia (n=32), severe preeclampsia (n=32), and healthy pregnant women (n=24). Serum levels of VEGF-A, VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, fPGF, endostatin, and PAPP-A levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS In women with mild and severe preeclampsia, the gestation age at birth and birth weight were found to be significantly lower than the control group (p<0.001). Serum levels of endostatin, VEGFR-1, and VEGF-A levels were significantly increased in pregnant women with preeclampsia compared with healthy pregnant women (p<0.001). Serum levels of PAPP-A, VEGFR-2, and fPGF were significantly higher in healthy pregnant women when compared with women with preeclampsia (p=0.024, p<0.001, and p<0.001, respectively), but there were no significant differences between women with mild and severe preeclampsia. CONCLUSIONS Reduced serum levels of the angiogenic factors PAPP-A, VEGFR-2, and fPGF distinguished between women with preeclampsia and normotensive pregnant women but did not significantly distinguish between mild and severe preeclampsia.