Mechanistic Underpinnings of Preeclampsia

Mechanistic Underpinnings of Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a dreadful disease with significant morbidity and mortality. Despite decades of research, we still need a proper diagnostic test or therapeutic option to treat this disorder. The proposed study will determine the diagnostic value of PBMC-secreted sFlt1 and determine the molecular mechanisms involved in its secretion. The molecular mechanisms can be novel therapeutic targets to treat this disorder.

Healthy Adults:

• Healthy non-pregnant with previous normal pregnant women

Non-Health Adults:

• Patients will be admitted with the diagnosis of preeclampsia according to the internationally accepted definition of preeclampsia: Blood pressure measurement of 140/90 mm Hg or an increase of 30 mm Hg systolic or 15 mm Hg diastolic over baseline values on at least two occasions, six or more hours apart and proteinuria; 300 mg/24 hour after 20th week of gestation.

Pregnant Women:

Groups 3 - 6 will include pregnant women at different trimesters.

Criteria common to all groups:

• The study will be conducted only in females aged 18 or above.
• Patients in all the groups will be matched for age, which will be 18 or above.
• Women will be matched for body mass index; criteria for normal body mass index will be used based on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Guidelines.
• Patients with premature rupture of the membrane, non-preeclamptic preterm labor, IUGR, placental abruption, twin? Any other complications during the pregnancy will be excluded from the study.
• Patients with any evidence of genetic or non-genetic malformations of the fetus will be excluded from the study.
• The study will be conducted on women who are non-smokers and do not consume alcohol or recreational drugs.
• The study will be conducted only on primigravida females to minimize phenotyping variability.
• The women with a known history of any chronic disorder, including but not limited to hypertension, diabetes, pulmonary, renal, cardiac, or cerebrovascular disorders, will be excluded from the studies.