The utility of maternal serum endocan level to predict preterm delivery within seven days in patients with threatened preterm labor

© 2019, © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.Objective: The aim of the current study was to determine serum endocan levels in patients with threatened preterm labor and to assign whether endocan levels in patients with true preterm labor who give birth within 7 days differ from those of false preterm labor and uncomplicated pregnancy. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 58 patients diagnosed with threatened preterm labor and 31 healthy pregnant women matched for gestational age. Patients with threatened preterm labor were divided into two groups; preterm delivery (28) and term delivery (30) groups. Maternal serum endocan levels were measured with the use of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Results: The median serum endocan level (pg/mL) in patients with threatened preterm labor was significantly higher than that of women with uncomplicated pregnancies (725, IQR 619–823 versus 310, IQR 218–423; p .05). Conclusions: The maternal serum endocan level may be a useful marker to define high risk group for preterm delivery in patients with threatened preterm labor and similar cervical length measures

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, hepcidin and interleukin-6 levels in pregnancies with preterm labour

© 2019, © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.The aim of the study was to investigate whether serum hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1α), hepcidin and interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations differed between threatened preterm labour (TPL) and uncomplicated pregnancies. This study was conducted on 54 women with TDL pregnancies and 26 healthy pregnant women. The TPL group was further divided into two subgroups according to the gestational age at delivery. Patients who gave birth within 48–72 h after the hospitalisation were referred to as preterm delivery (PD) and who gave birth at ≥37 weeks were referred to as term delivery (TD). Maternal levels of serum HIF-1α, hepcidin and IL-6 were measured with the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The mean maternal serum HIF-1α, hepcidin and IL-6 levels of PD were significantly higher than TD (p <.001*) and control group (p <.001*). The mean maternal serum HIF-1α and hepcidin levels of TD were no significantly higher than the control group (p=.058, p =.064). The mean maternal serum IL-6 level of TD was significantly higher than the control group (p <.001*). A negative correlation was found between serum concentration of HIF1α, hepcidin, IL-6 with the gestational week of delivery (r = –0.421, p <.01* for HIF-1α; r = –0.578, p <.01* for hepcidin and r = –0.435, p <.01* for IL-6). High levels of HIF-1α, hepcidin and IL-6 may have potential to be used as biomarkers for the differentiation of PD and TD.Impact statementWhat is already knownon this subject? It is known that hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1α) is a hypoxia marker and hepcidin and interleukin-6 (IL-6) increase in inflammation. Our study is the comparison of maternal serum HIF-1α, hepcidin and IL-6 levels between the TPL group (TD and PD) and healthy control group. Whatthe resultsof this study add? The present study demonstrates that serum HIF-1α, hepcidin and IL-6 levels were significantly higher in TPD group than uncomplicated group. The mean maternal serum HIF-1α and hepcidin levels of TD were no significantly higher than the control group. Whatthe implicationsareof these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? High levels of HIF-1α, hepcidin and IL-6 may be biomarkers in the determination of true preterm labour within the TPL group

Evaluation of maternal serum hypoxia inducible factor-1α, progranulin and syndecan-1 levels in pregnancies with early- and late-onset preeclampsia

© 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.Objective: To determine the serum levels of HIF-1 α, progranulin, and syndecan-1 in preeclampsia (PE) and normal pregnancy, and to compare whether these markers demonstrate any difference between early-onset PE (EO-PE) and late-onset PE (LO-PE). Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 27 women with EO-PE, 27 women with LO-PE, and 26 healthy normotensive pregnant controls matched for gestational age. Maternal levels of serum HIF-1 α, progranulin, and syndecan-1 were measured with the use of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Results: Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between the control and the PE groups in progranulin (p <.001) and syndecan-1 (p <.001) levels. There were no significant differences in the serum HIF-1 α levels between these groups (p=.069). When PE patients were evaluated by considering subgroups; statistical analysis revealed significant inter-group differences in all biomarkers. Serum progranulin levels were significantly higher in LO-PE compared with the other two groups (EO-PE versus LO-PE and LO-PE versus controls p =.000). Control group presented significantly higher syndecan-1 levels, than EO and LO-PE (p <.001). HIF-1 α levels positively correlated with progranulin levels (r =.439, p=.000). Conclusions: Serum progranulin may have potential to be used as a biomarker for the differentiation of EO-PE and LO-PE. The co-operative action between HIF-1 α and progranulin might play a key role in the pathogenesis of LO-PE. The predominant feature of LO-PE seems to be an inflammatory process, whereas in EO-PE placentation problem seems to be the main pathology

Maternal copeptin levels in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

© 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.Purpose: To investigate the copeptin levels in women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) compared to women with uncomplicated pregnancies. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 40 pregnant women with ICP and 38 randomly selected healthy pregnant women, who formed the control group. Serum copeptin concentrations were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Maternal age, body mass index at assessment, and gestational age at blood sampling were similar between the two groups. Duration of pregnancy was shorter and mean birth weight was significantly lower in the ICP group compared to the control group. Total bile acid, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and gamma glutamyl transferase levels were significantly higher in the ICP group than in the control group. There was no significant difference in copeptin concentrations (2.54 (2.05) versus 2.43 (1.98) ng/ml; p =.5). Conclusions: Serum copeptin concentrations did not vary between the pregnancies complicated by ICP and the healthy pregnancy control group

Maternal copeptin levels in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

© 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.Purpose: To investigate the copeptin levels in women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) compared to women with uncomplicated pregnancies. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 40 pregnant women with ICP and 38 randomly selected healthy pregnant women, who formed the control group. Serum copeptin concentrations were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Maternal age, body mass index at assessment, and gestational age at blood sampling were similar between the two groups. Duration of pregnancy was shorter and mean birth weight was significantly lower in the ICP group compared to the control group. Total bile acid, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and gamma glutamyl transferase levels were significantly higher in the ICP group than in the control group. There was no significant difference in copeptin concentrations (2.54 (2.05) versus 2.43 (1.98) ng/ml; p =.5). Conclusions: Serum copeptin concentrations did not vary between the pregnancies complicated by ICP and the healthy pregnancy control group

Evaluation of maternal serum hypoxia inducible factor-1α, progranulin and syndecan-1 levels in pregnancies with early- and late-onset preeclampsia

© 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.Objective: To determine the serum levels of HIF-1 α, progranulin, and syndecan-1 in preeclampsia (PE) and normal pregnancy, and to compare whether these markers demonstrate any difference between early-onset PE (EO-PE) and late-onset PE (LO-PE). Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 27 women with EO-PE, 27 women with LO-PE, and 26 healthy normotensive pregnant controls matched for gestational age. Maternal levels of serum HIF-1 α, progranulin, and syndecan-1 were measured with the use of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Results: Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between the control and the PE groups in progranulin (p <.001) and syndecan-1 (p <.001) levels. There were no significant differences in the serum HIF-1 α levels between these groups (p=.069). When PE patients were evaluated by considering subgroups; statistical analysis revealed significant inter-group differences in all biomarkers. Serum progranulin levels were significantly higher in LO-PE compared with the other two groups (EO-PE versus LO-PE and LO-PE versus controls p =.000). Control group presented significantly higher syndecan-1 levels, than EO and LO-PE (p <.001). HIF-1 α levels positively correlated with progranulin levels (r =.439, p=.000). Conclusions: Serum progranulin may have potential to be used as a biomarker for the differentiation of EO-PE and LO-PE. The co-operative action between HIF-1 α and progranulin might play a key role in the pathogenesis of LO-PE. The predominant feature of LO-PE seems to be an inflammatory process, whereas in EO-PE placentation problem seems to be the main pathology