42 Negative correlation between PlGF and Endocan-1 in women with preeclampsia

Introduction: Endocan-1 is a soluble proteoglican specifically expressed in endothelial cells, a biomarker/predictor of vascular endothelial related pathologies, as pre-eclampsia (PE). PlGF is an angiogenic factor, and a marker of placental dysfunction, which is down regulated in women with PE. We hypothesized that Endocan-1 and PlGF levels would be negatively correlated in pregnant women with PE. Objectives: To analyse Endocan-1 and PlGF levels in maternal plasma in normotensive and women with PE and test the correlation between the findings in the third trimester of pregnancy. Methods: Endocan-1 and PlGF levels were measured in maternal plasma from normotensive (n= 67) and PE (n= 50) women using MagPlexTH-C microspheres system. Data was analysed by ANCOVA, adjusted for BMI, gestational age and maternal age. To estimate the difference between groups, mean ratio (MR) and confidence interval (CI) of 95% was calculated. Analysis between Endocan-1 levels and PlGF were made by Pearson correlation. The null hypothesis was rejected when p < 0.05. Results: Higher concentrations of Endocan-1 were found in maternal plasma in PE (MR = 1.49; 95% CI: 1.19–1.85,p= 0.001), with a moderate effect size (Cohen’s D = 0.84). When women with superimposed PE and HELLP syndrome were excluded, lower levels of PlGF were found in the PE group (MR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.15–0.95 p = 0.041). A strong negative correlation between Endocan-1 e PlGF in the entire group (r=-0.605; p < 0.001); as well as in PE group (r=-0.545; p < 0.001) was observed. Conclusion: Endocan-1 levels are increased in patients with PE and are negatively correlated with PlGF levels. These data could be related to hypoxemia and fetal growth restriction (seen by lower PlGF levels), leading to a systemic response in order to find a volumetric compensation; leading to endothelial lesions (seen as the upregulation of Endocan-1). Thus, it is important to analyse angiogenic and proinflamatory molecules concomitantly in women with PE, in order to better understand the disease pathophysiology. In this case, both molecules are strong potentials as specific PE biomarkers

Negative correlation between Placental Growth Factor and Endocan-1 in women with preeclampsia

Objective: To analyse Endocan-1, a biomarker of vascular endothelial related pathologies, and Placental growth factor (PlGF), an angiogenic factor and a placental dysfunction marker in patients with pre-eclampsia (PE). Methods: Case-control study conducted at São Lucas Hospital. Endocan-1 and PlGF levels were quantified in maternal plasma using MagPlexTH-C microspheres system and analysed by ANCOVA adjusted by BMI, gestational age and maternal age. To estimate the difference between groups, mean ratio (MR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. Pearson correlation test was used to establish any association between Endocan-1 and PlGF levels. The null hypothesis was rejected when p<0.05. Results: The group of patients was composed by normotensive (n=67) and patients with PE (n=50). A negative correlation between Endocan-1 and PlGF was noted in the entire group (r= -0,605; p< 0.001); as well as in the PE group (r= -0,545; p< 0.001). Conclusion: Endocan-1 levels are increased in patients with PE and inversely correlated with PlGF levels. We suggest that it is important to analyze angiogenic and pro-inflammatory molecules concomitantly in women with PE to better understand the disease pathophysiology. Both molecules are strong competitors as a PE biomarkers and future work will examine any mechanisms connecting these factors in PE

Negative correlation between Placental Growth Factor and Endocan-1 in women with preeclampsia

Objective: To analyse Endocan-1, a biomarker of vascular endothelial related pathologies, and Placental growth factor (PlGF), an angiogenic factor and a placental dysfunction marker in patients with pre-eclampsia (PE). Methods: Case-control study conducted at São Lucas Hospital. Endocan-1 and PlGF levels were quantified in maternal plasma using MagPlexTH-C microspheres system and analysed by ANCOVA adjusted by BMI, gestational age and maternal age. To estimate the difference between groups, mean ratio (MR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. Pearson correlation test was used to establish any association between Endocan-1 and PlGF levels. The null hypothesis was rejected when p<0.05. Results: The group of patients was composed by normotensive (n=67) and patients with PE (n=50). A negative correlation between Endocan-1 and PlGF was noted in the entire group (r= -0,605; p< 0.001); as well as in the PE group (r= -0,545; p< 0.001). Conclusion: Endocan-1 levels are increased in patients with PE and inversely correlated with PlGF levels. We suggest that it is important to analyze angiogenic and pro-inflammatory molecules concomitantly in women with PE to better understand the disease pathophysiology. Both molecules are strong competitors as a PE biomarkers and future work will examine any mechanisms connecting these factors in PE

Effect of standard and neutral-pH peritoneal dialysis solutions upon fibroblasts proliferation

Introduction: Continuous exposition of the peritoneal membrane to conventional dialysis solutions is an important risk factor for inducing structural and functional alterations. Objective: To compare in vitro mouse fibroblast NIH-3T3 cell viability after exposition to a neutral pH dialysis solution in comparison to cells exposed to a standard solution. Methods: Experimental study to compare the effects of a conventional standard or a neutral-pH, low-glucose degradation products peritoneal dialysis solution on the viability of exposed fibroblasts in cell culture. Both solutions were tested in all the commercially available glucose concentrations. Cell viability was evaluated with tetrazolium salt colorimetric assay. Results: Fibroblast viability was significantly superior in the neutral pH solution in comparison to control, in all three glucose concentrations (Optical density in nm-means ± SD: 1.5% 0.295 ± 0.047 vs. 0.372 ± 0.042, p < 0.001; 2.3% 0.270 ± 0.036 vs. 0.337 ± 0.051, p < 0.001; 4.25% 0.284 ± 0.037 vs. 0.332 ± 0.032, p < 0.001; control vs. neutral pH respectively, Student t Test). There was no significant difference in cell viability between the three concentrations of glucose when standard solution was used (ANOVA p = 0.218), although cell viability was higher after exposition to neutral pH peritoneal dialysis fluid at 1.5% in comparison to 2.3 and 4.25% glucose concentrations (ANOVA p = 0.008: Bonferroni 1.5% vs. 2.3% p = 0.033, 1.5% vs. 4.25% p = 0.014, 2.3% vs. 4.25% p = 1.00). Conclusion: Cell viability was better in neutral pH dialysis solution, especially in the lower glucose concentration. A more physiological pH and lower glucose degradation products may be responsible for such results

Endothelial Nitric Oxide Genotypes and Haplotypes Are Not Associated with End-Stage Renal Disease

The identification of genetic markers associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) may help to predict its development. Because reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability and endothelial dysfunction are involved in CKD, genetic polymorphisms in the gene encoding the enzyme involved in NO synthesis (endothelial NO synthase [eNos]) may affect the susceptibility to CKD and the development of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). We compared genotype and haplotype distributions of three relevant eNOS polymorphisms (T(-786) C in the promoter region, Glu298Asp in exon 7, and 4b/4a in intron 4) in 110 healthy control subjects and 127 ESRD patients. Genotypes for the T(-786) C and Glu298Asp polymorphisms were determined by TaqMan (R) Allele Discrimination assay and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Genotypes for the intron 4 polymorphism were determined by polymerase chain reaction and fragment separation by electrophoresis. The software program PHASE 2.1 was used to estimate the haplotypes frequencies. We considered significant a probability value of p < 0.05/number of haplotypes (p < 0.05/8 = 0.0063). We found no significant differences between groups with respect to age, ethnicity, and gender. CKD patients had higher blood pressure, total cholesterol, and creatinine levels than healthy control subjects (all p < 0.05). Genotype and allele distributions for the three eNOS polymorphisms were similar in both groups (p > 0.05). We found no significant differences in haplotype distribution between groups (p > 0.05). The lack of significant associations between eNOS polymorphisms and ESRD suggests that eNOS polymorphisms may not be relevant to the genetic component of CKD that leads to ESRD.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP-Brazil)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq-Brazil)Centro Nefrologico de Taquar

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome: differences between pregnant and non-pregnant patients

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a clinical-radiologic entity not yet understood, that presents with transient neurologic symptoms and particular radiological findings. Few papers show the differences between pregnant and non-pregnant patients. We review the cases of 38 women diagnosed with PRES, in order to find significant differences between pregnant (18) and non-pregnant (20) patients. We found differences among the age of patients (25.83 years old in pregnant and 29.31 years old in non pregnant; P=0.001); in the mean of highest systolic blood pressure, that was higher in non-pregnant group (185:162 mmHg; P=0.121); and in creatinine levels that was higher in non-pregnant group (3.47:1.04 mg/dL; P=0.001). To our knowledge, just a few papers analyzed whether PRES syndrome presented in the same way in pregnant and non-pregnant patients. The differences and the possible pathophisiology of this syndrome still remain enigmatic