Maternal Plasma Angiopoietin-1 and Angiopoietin-2 in Pregnant Women with Chronic Hypertension / 대한주산의학회잡지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether plasma angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) concentrations in pregnant women with chronic hypertension are different from those of normotensive pregnant women. METHODS: This hospital-based case-control study consisted of 35 pregnant women with chronic hypertension who delivered at Seoul National University Hospital. Normotensive pregnant women (n=70) were selected as controls, matched with maternal age, gestational age at delivery and birthweight. Maternal blood was drawn at the time of admission for delivery and plasma was separated and stored. The plasma Ang-1 and Ang-2 levels were measured by ELISA. Statistical analysis was done with Mann-Whitney U test, Fisher's exact test and Spearman rank correlation test using SPSS. RESULTS: Median (range) maternal age, gestational age and birthweight were 33 years (24-42), 38 weeks (32-41), and 3.08 kg (1.13-4.01). Pregnant women with chronic hypertension had significantly higher median Ang-1 and Ang-2 levels than normotensive pregnant women (for Ang-1 median 4,111 pg/mL, range 1,415-30,172 vs. median 2,824 pg/mL range 662-14,512, P=0.015, for Ang-2 median 5,637 pg/mL, range 1,131-29,327 vs. median 3,345 pg/mL, range 609-24,467, P=0.039). CONCLUSION: Maternal plasma Ang-1 and Ang-2 levels were elevated in pregnant women with chronic hypertension compared with normotensive pregnant women. Further study is needed to determine if this change is a cause or a compensatory mechanism to chronic hypertension.